Invasive 'murder hornets' found in Europe for the first time
Southern giant hornets, sometimes referred to as "murder hornets," have been found in Spain — the first detection in Europe. The hornets are a threat to bees.
Researchers in Spain are scrambling to find the nest belonging to the first southern giant hornets found in Europe.
Sometimes referred to as "murder hornets" because they are known to kill off beehives, the insects grow to an average length of 2 inches. They are native to parts of Asia including India, China, Thailand and Vietnam.
In a study published last month in the journal Ecology and Evolution, five Spanish scientists described two separate sightings of southern giant hornets, whose scientific name is Vespa soror. Both were in the northern city of Siero in Asturias province: A pair was spotted in March 2022, then another two in October 2023.
Researchers believe the hornets have a nest that dates back at least a year.
Northern giant hornets — a closely related species originating in other parts of Asia — were first spotted in the United States in Washington state in late 2019. The northern and southern hornets are similar in behavior and appearance, though the former have shorter nesting periods and produce smaller colonies and nests.
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