Written by Saanchi Biyani, a grade 4 student

As the world is in the middle of the COVID crisis,  another one is has descended upon us. Curious? Do not worry – it has nothing to do with your exams. But then what is it all about? I am talking about Murder Hornets –  mean-looking large insects with a potent sting, that can ruin the nervous system of human beings and animals, and also destroy crops. They are a threat to honeybees – the most important source for pollination for the majority of our crops and / fruits.

Let’s talk about Murder Hornets. Their real name is Vespa Mandarinia. Originating from East Asia, they are commonly referred to as Asian Giant Hornets. They are, on an average, 4cms in length. The queen Murder Hornet is two inches long. They are found in South Asia, East Asia, Mainland South-East Asia, and, part of the Russian far east. At the end 2019, these hornets were found in North America, for the first time. They have a unique biology and they get their common name “Murder Hornets” because they attack beehives in order to take the larvae to feed their own offsprings. They can also kill people.

Murder Hornets are dangerous. While they are not naturally interested in killing people, they attack beehives. Some 25,000 can attack in a  matter of a few hours. This has a huge impact on fruits and crops. So, what should you do if you think you see one? My advice to you would be, “don’t try to take them on your own”. First, be sure, and then report to the state department and authorities to deal with them.

Written by Saanchi Biyani, a grade 4 student