Characteristics:

Length: 1.5 to 2 inches long. Queens are usually the largest in the colony.

Head: Large and yellowish orange with big dark brown eyes. The mandibles are dark with a black tooth (Fig. 1).

Body: Thorax is dark brown to black. Abdomen has alternating stripes of dark brown and yellowish stripes (Fig. 2).

Distribution:

This hornet is native to Japan, but it is also established in many other parts of Asia. In 2019, it was introduced into the northwestern U.S. by unknown origins. Specimens were first discovered in British Columbia, Canada, in the late summer of 2019 (Tripodi and Hardin 2020). Later that year, a few hornets were also documented in Blaine, Washington. The state set up traps to capture the invasive hornet, and in 2020 several hornets were sighted and trapped near Blaine. In October 2020, a radio transmitter was attached to a hornet that was released and tracked to its nest (Schlosser 2020). Another nest was detected in August 2021 by similar means. Both nests were subsequently destroyed. Entomologists believe that other nests are located near the area of hornet sightings. Authorities are hopeful that eradication efforts will be successful in the future.

Look-alikes:

The Asian giant hornet is not yet present in the U.S. outside of Washington State. However, the U.S., including Kentucky, has a few species of wasps that may be confused with the invasive hornet.

  1. The European hornet, Vespa crabro (L.), is also invasive and is found throughout the U.S. It is smaller than the Asian giant hornet (about 1.5 inches). The European hornet has a smaller head and fewer bands on the abdomen. The European hornet does not prey on honey bees; it is a generalist predator (Fig. 3).
  2. The cicada killer, Sphecius speciosus (Drury), is as large as the Asian giant hornet. It hunts cicadas and returns to the burrow to feed them to its larvae. Only the females have a stinger, and it rarely bothers humans. It is common throughout the U.S. and is most active in late summer. The head of the cicada killer is similar in color to its thorax. The bands on the abdomen have peaks and are not straight bands like the Asian giant hornet (USDA 2020) (Fig. 4).

Fig. 3. European Hornet. Hanna Royals, Museum Collections: Hymenoptera, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org

Fig. 4. Cicada killer. Hanna Royals, Museum Collections: Hymenoptera, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org

References:

  1. Gill, C., C. Jack, and A. Lucky. 2020. Featured Creature
  2. Asian Giant Hornet. University of Florida. Publ. EENY-
  3. Entomology and Nematology Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service. Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida.
  4. McGann C. 2019. Pest Alert: Asian giant hornet. Washington State Department of Agriculture. (28 January 2021).
  5. Schlosser, K. October 23, 2020. Using radio trackers, scientists locate ‘murder hornet’ nest in Washington State – first ever in U.S. Geek Wire. https://www.geekwire.com/2020/using-radio-trackers-scientists-finally-locate-murder-hornet-nest-washington-state/. (Accessed 3/16/2021).
  6. Tripodi, A. and T. Hardin. 2020. USDA New Pest Response Guidelines: Vespa mandarinia Asian giant hornet. Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA. 62 pages. https://cms.agr.wa.gov/WSDAKentico/Documents/PP/PestProgram/Vespa_mandarinia_NPRG_10Feb2020-(002).pdf (Accessed 3/12/2021).
  7. USDA. 2020. Animal Plant Health Inspection Service. Asian Giant Hornet. https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/plant-pest-and-disease-programs/honey-bees/. (Accessed 3/12/2021).
  8. Yanagawa, Y., K. Morita, T. Sugiura, and Y. Okada. 2007. Cutaneous hemorrhage or necrosis findings after Vespa mandarinia (wasp) stings may predict the occurrence of multiple organ injury: A case report and review of literature. Clinical Toxicology 45:803-807.

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