northern giant hornet
noun
plural northern giant hornets
: a large hornet (Vespa mandarinia) of temperate to tropical forests and mountains of Asia that typically nests underground and that has a yellow or orange head, a dark thorax, an abdomen with alternating bands of black or brown and orange or yellow, and a stinger nearly .4 inches (1 centimeter) long
Northern giant hornet queens are among the largest wasps in the world and can grow in excess of 2 inches with a wingspan of 3 inches. … Northern giant hornet workers can grow to 1.5 inches in length …—
Michael J. Skvarla
Michael J. SkvarlaThe northern giant hornet is native to eastern Asia—mostly Japan, Korea and Taiwan—and feeds on honey bees and other small insects. … Their sting injects a large amount of venom, which can be very painful and may also cause swelling, redness and itching.—Winston Szeto
Winston SzetoThe northern giant hornet poses a potential threat to honeybees, human health and agriculture. … In 2019, the hornet now known as the northern giant hornet was found in Washington State, and there have been efforts to eradicate the species entirely since then.—Rachel Fadem
Rachel FademNote: This insect, formerly known as the Asian giant hornet, Japanese giant hornet, or murder hornet, was officially renamed by the Entomological Society of America in July 2022 in order to comply with Society policies discouraging geographic references for invasive species.
Examples of northern giant hornet in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The yellow-legged hornet is not as large as the infamous northern giant hornet that made national headlines in 2021.
—Cole Sikes Communications and Marketing Specialist Alabama Cooperative Extension System, al, 16 Aug. 2023
The invasive insects, which are now called northern giant hornets, were feared also because of their ability to rapidly kill domestic honeybee and hornet species.
—Simrin Singh, CBS News, 15 Aug. 2023
Instead, the classification is meant to put it on par with creatures like the northern giant hornet, also known as the murder hornet.
—Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 28 July 2022
In 2019, the hornet now known as the northern giant hornet was found in Washington State, and there have been efforts to eradicate the species entirely since then.
—Rachel Fadem, CNN, 26 July 2022
For the first time since 2019, the northern giant hornet hasn't been found in Washington State.
—Teddy Grant, ABC News, 8 Dec. 2022
The invasive insect, which is also known as the Asian giant hornet, has been classified as the northern giant hornet by the Entomological Society of America (ESA).
—Fox News, 27 July 2022
The northern giant hornet, most notoriously known as the murder hornet, has been given a new common name that accurately describes its origins.
—Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 26 July 2022
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Cole Sikes Communications and Marketing Specialist Alabama Cooperative Extension System, al, 16 Aug. 2023
The invasive insects, which are now called northern giant hornets, were feared also because of their ability to rapidly kill domestic honeybee and hornet species.
—Simrin Singh, CBS News, 15 Aug. 2023
Instead, the classification is meant to put it on par with creatures like the northern giant hornet, also known as the murder hornet.
—Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 28 July 2022
In 2019, the hornet now known as the northern giant hornet was found in Washington State, and there have been efforts to eradicate the species entirely since then.
—Rachel Fadem, CNN, 26 July 2022
For the first time since 2019, the northern giant hornet hasn't been found in Washington State.
—Teddy Grant, ABC News, 8 Dec. 2022
The invasive insect, which is also known as the Asian giant hornet, has been classified as the northern giant hornet by the Entomological Society of America (ESA).
—Fox News, 27 July 2022
The northern giant hornet, most notoriously known as the murder hornet, has been given a new common name that accurately describes its origins.
—Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 26 July 2022
Dictionary Entries Near northern giant hornet
Cite this Entry
“Northern giant hornet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/northern%20giant%20hornet. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
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