Western Farmer-Stockman Logo

WSDA honors the Entomology Society of America's new name for the Asian giant hornet. It's now the northern giant hornet.

Farm Press Staff

July 26, 2022

1 Min Read
WFP-WSDA-agh0321_2.jpg

When the Asian giant hornet arrived on the scene in the U.S. in 2019, many in the entomology community denounced the popular media for dubbing the destructive pest a "murder hornet."

Now entomologists are changing the name again, to the northern giant hornet, in deference to Asian people.

The Washington State Department of Agriculture -- which is pushing ahead with an eradication program for the new pest -- announced July 25 it is honoring the Entomology Society of America's new name for the species, Vespa mandarinia, in its Common Names of Insects and Related Organisms List.

Related: Trapping gets underway for invasive pests

Scientists note there was no official common name for the hornet, and the proposal to give it one came from Dr. Chris Looney, who has been actively involved in WSDA’s hornet research and containment efforts.

Scientists are trying to get away from naming insects using geographic regions, and the WSDA says the new names should also help reduce confusion between V. mandarinia – which had been known as Asian giant hornet – and V. velutina – which had been known as the Asian hornet.

The northern giant hornet is an invasive hornet native to Asia that has been the target of eradication efforts in Washington state, USA, and British Columbia, Canada after individual hornets were first discovered in both locations in 2019. WSDA entomologists have eradicated four northern giant hornet nests since they were first discovered in the state.

Related: Entomologists: Don't call Asian insect a 'murder hornet'

Learn more about the northern giant hornet on WSDA’s hornet webpage.

Source: Washington State Department of Agriculture, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.

Subscribe to receive top agriculture news
Be informed daily with these free e-newsletters

You May Also Like