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What to know about the ‘aggressive’ hornet spotted in Europe for the first time ever

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What to know about the ‘aggressive’ hornet spotted in Europe for the first time ever

For the first time ever, researchers in Europe have spotted an invasive hornet species that is quite large and preys on animals such as butterflies, mantids and even geckos.

That’s according to researchers from the University of Oviedo in Spain, who were completing an eco-monitoring program to analyze the biodiversity of insects affected by the trapping of the yellow-legged hornet, whose scientific name is vespa velutina.

While conducting their research, the scientists found multiple insects from the vespa soror species, also known as the southern giant hornet. It’s the first time the species has been found in Europe.

The findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal “Ecology and Evolution” last month.

Other similar hornets have previously made headlines after they were spotted in Georgia, such as the yellow-legged hornet. Authorities in Georgia asked for the public’s help tracking the invasive species in April, noting that it preys on honeybees and other pollinators.

There’s also the Asian giant hornet, which was found in Washington in 2021 and is sometimes called a “murder hornet,” the Associated Press reported.

The researchers who most recently found the southern giant hornet in Europe said “Asian hornet” and “murder hornet” are “undesirable” terms to use when referring to this most recent specimen. 

They added that the southern giant hornet discovery is an example of how useful it can be to study insects. Doing so can lead to early detection of invasive species, the scientists wrote.

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Hornet species is an ‘aggressive predator,’ scientists say

The southern giant hornet is one of the largest hornets, the researchers noted in the paper.

They are part of the genus Vespa, which are mostly endemic to Asia, the researchers said. They are typically found in Asia’s warmer regions, including northeastern India, northern Myanmar, northern Thailand, Laos, northern Vietnam and southern China, the researchers said.

Previously, one southern giant hornet queen was found at Vancouver Harbor, British Columbia, Canada in 2019. Two years later, another was found in British Columbia and across the Canada-U.S. border in Washington State, but the species “seems to have vanished due to no detections in 2023 and 2024,” the researchers noted.

Altogether, four of vespa soror insects were collected in March 2022 and October 2023 in northern Spain. Researchers peered at the insects under a microscope and also collected DNA.

According to the researchers, the southern giant hornets have a “peculiar color pattern” most other species don’t have. Both males and females have black to blackish-brown, light-brown and yellow coloring, the scientists said.

The southern giant hornet is an “aggressive predator” that preys on invertebrates such as butterflies, dragonflies, mantids and grasshoppers, as well as other wasps and geckos, the researchers said.

The southern giant hornet has also reportedly formed groups and attacked honeybee hives, leading to losses among those in the beekeeping industry, the researchers noted. The species could also post health risks because their stings are quite painful and their venom “most likely has a potent venom,” the researchers said.

Their nests are usually underground though, as well as near roots of large trees. Some southern giant hornet nests are just a few centimeters underground but others are quite deep, the researchers said.

“This may turn into a problem if this species becomes widespread in northern Spain,” the researchers wrote. “The first factor for its effective control is the removal of its nests after detection. Consequently, if V. soror nests are underground, this can be an added complication at the time of its search, detection, and elimination by the competent agencies/personnel involved.”

How did the southern giant hornet species end up in Europe?

The researchers said the discovery of the hornets may have occurred in part due to globalization, which has made it easier for hornets to introduce and spread to new areas and countries over the past few decades. It also doesn’t take many hornets to settle in new areas, the researchers said.

“Once the suitable environmental conditions are provided, it is only necessary for one or a few fertilized queens (depending on the species) to arrive safely and survive the most difficult period, until the hatching of the first workers,” the researchers wrote.

The researchers said that in Hong Kong, southern giant hornet queens usually emerge from late March to April each year, while the first workers usually appear in June. Regarding the insects the team captured recently, they may have been stowaways during hibernation from one of its native countries. 

What’s in a name?

In addition to spotting the species in Europe for the first time, the researchers also found it important to discuss the hornet’s name, both for scientific and daily use outside of the lab. 

The Entomological Society of America proposed the name “southern giant hornet,” which is usually translated to “avispón gigante del sur” in Spanish. Another variation, “avispón gigante meridional,” was noted as well in the paper.

But the names could lead to issues if people shorten them, confusing them with the northern giant hornet species. 

“A new name is accordingly proposed here,” the researchers wrote, referring to the term avispón sóror, calling it “short, convenient, and unmistakable.”

Contributing: Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY

Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY’s NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Follow her on Twitter at @SaleenMartin or email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.

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