Deadly Asian hornets appear in U.S. for first time
The invasive Asian giant hornet has been sited in Washington state for the first time in the U.S. (Washington State Department of Agriculture)
Deadly hornets from Asia that measure up to 2 inches long and can wipe out entire honey bee colonies within hours have been spotted for the first time in the U.S.
These so-called “murder hornets” represent a threat to the honeybee population. The hornets-which have been blamed for 50 deaths a year in Japan—have been spotted in Washington, and according to the New York Times, can rip through a hive, killing a bee every 14 seconds.
But researchers found an interesting defense that Japanese honeybees have employed against the larger opponent. Bees in Japan have been known to form a ball around the invader and vibrate to produce heat that essentially can cook a hornet to death. The report said bees can survive in extreme temperatures and can kill a hornet in an hour.
The Times reported that European honeybees—which are common in the U.S.—try to sting the hornet, which proves futile due to their tough exoskeleton. A researcher told the paper that the Japanese honeybee learned to adapt through generations.
“Our honeybees, the predator has never been there before, so they have no defense,” Ruthie Danielsen, a beekeeper in Washington, told the Times.
Fox News' Robert Gearty contributed to this report