Thursday, April 15, 2021

M is for Murder Hornets

This year for the A-to-Z Challenge, I'll be looking at major events that happened in 2020 [the year we would all like to forget, so let's look at it first, before flushing it down the toilet].

Welcome to M!  We're looking at – MURDER HORNETS.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Asian_giant_hornet.png
My first idea for M was the dreaded and infamous face masks

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Face_Masks_used_to_prevent_the_spread_of_COVID-19.jpg
But I decided that murder hornets would be more fun.  In late 2019 and early 2020, murder hornets were found on the northwest coast of North America, in British Columbia Canada and Washington US.

Otherwise known as Asian giant hornets, murder hornets are the world's largest hornets, with a body measuring 1-3/4 inches long and a windspan of 3 inches.  Yikes!

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Evening_Star_ruler_-_3.jpg
I would NOT want to find a hornet that large anywhere within the same zipcode as me.  The stinger is about 1/4 inch long.  As a comparison, a honeybee stinger is 1/16 inch long.  Double yikes!  As reported by one victim, the stinger injects a venom that causes the affected area to feel like it was “stabbed with a hot nail”.  One sting won't kill a human unless the person is allergic, but several stings can be lethal.

Here's a teaser for tomorrow, letter N:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:3D_Medical_Animation_Nose_Top_section.jpg



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10 comments:

  1. Craig FApril 15, 2021 at 6:40 AM

    We have more than enough dangerous and invasive species down here in Florida, we don't need that one too. I have to fight leaf wasps and mahogany wasps ever year. We are the only house around with milkweed growing and a healthy supply of Monarch caterpillars, favored wasp food, I don't need to fight those monsters too.

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    Replies
    1. Dena PawlingApril 17, 2021 at 12:24 PM

      They're not in SoCal yet and I'd like it to stay that way!

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  2. Iain KellyApril 15, 2021 at 9:56 AM

    I remember reading about these during the pandemic and thinking - what next!!?
    https://iainkellywriting.com/2021/04/15/the-state-trilogy-a-z-guide-m/

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  3. Frédérique - Quilting Patchwork AppliquéApril 15, 2021 at 11:08 AM

    Yes, those insects are really dangerous
    Quilting Patchwork & Appliqué

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  4. AJ BlytheApril 15, 2021 at 7:51 PM

    Nope, didn't hear about this one and as far as I know we don't have these in Australia. I hope it stays that way!

    ReplyDelete
  5. JanetApril 16, 2021 at 2:57 PM

    Wow, those are huge! Nasal swab?

    Janet’s Smiles

    ReplyDelete

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