时间:2025-07-09 18:43:51 来源:网络整理编辑:焦點
It's a win for insects.The large two-inch hornet Vespa mandarinia, which is an invasive species in N
It's a win for insects.
The large two-inch hornet Vespa mandarinia, which is an invasive species in North America (it likely unwittingly hitched a ride in shipping cargo multiple times), has been popularly — and problematically — called both "murder hornet" and "Asian giant hornet" for the last couple of years. Now, that's changing.
The Entomological Society of America announced on July 25 that the common name for this species is now "northern giant hornet." "Murder hornet" was a particularly irresponsible name because it unfairly villainized insects, the foundation of our food web.
"Northern giant hornet is both scientifically accurate and easy to understand, and it avoids evoking fear or discrimination," Entomological Society of America president Jessica Ware, an entomologist, said in a statement.
There are a number of compelling reasons to ditch the name "murder hornet":
The animals aren't even called "murder hornets" where they're native in places like Japan. "No one calls them 'murder hornet,'" Akito Kawahara, an entomologist at the Florida Museum of Natural History who researches the evolution and diversity of insects, previously told Mashable. "People there [in Japan] often call them a 'large hornet' or a 'giant hornet.'"
Insects are often misunderstood in modern society. They are not evil, though we have to watch for or control the ones that spread disease. "It's a ridiculous name," said Kawahara. "Insects already have a bad perception."
Animals don't "murder." People, unfortunately, murder people. We don't need to spin these horrific actions onto insects. Yes, the species are large. And they can aggressively decimate bee colonies. But they're not interested in you. They have better things to do.
"They're not after you," Heather Mattila, a biologist at Wellesley College who researches honey bees and other insects, told Mashable in 2020. "They’re after their prey."
"It's a ridiculous name."
What's more, the name "Asian giant hornet" also proved problematic. That's because of the tendency for some people to use the word "Asian" in pejorative ways — as has been similarly done with the coronavirus. "There's potential for problems that should be avoided," Kawahara said.
Tweet may have been deleted
In contrast, "northern giant hornet" works well because it provides a good descriptor of where the species is located in Asia without, as Ware described above, "evoking fear or discrimination."
These big hornets, however, are an invasive species. And like many invasive species, they pose problems. That's why the Washington State Department of Agriculture, which has adopted the new naming guidance, seeks to eradicate this species by finding and destroying their nests. These big hornets prey on honey bees, and can threaten their populations.
"This is definitely an animal we don't want in North America, if we can avoid it," Mark Willis, an entomologist at Case Western Reserve University, told Mashable in 2020.
"They're not after you."
These days, it's unlikely you'll see a northern giant hornet in the U.S. unless you're in a corner of the Pacific Northwest. But when you do come across insects, even big ones, it's important to remember that they're normal, beneficial members of our ecosystem. And many are critical pollinators.
It would behoove us all to grow comfortable around these globally dominant critters. "People always ask me, 'When are the insects going to take over the world?'" Eric Day, an entomologist at Virginia Tech, said when I spoke with him about cicadas.
"They already have."
TopicsAnimals
Early Apple2025-07-09 18:43
《將夜2》今晚收官 王鶴棣宋伊人破永夜喚光明2025-07-09 18:34
阿迪達斯攜手天貓超級品牌日,見證經典鞋款 Superstar 50 周年創變2025-07-09 18:26
《少主且慢行》跟播期結束,虞書欣劉奕暢小學雞戀愛狙擊少女心2025-07-09 18:03
Make money or go to Stanford? Katie Ledecky is left with an unfair choice.2025-07-09 17:49
3.8女王節駕到,朱一龍帶“好朋友”一起為你祝福!2025-07-09 16:58
解鎖娛樂社交遊戲綜藝領域,《玩遊戲的朋友》3月10日正式上線2025-07-09 16:49
“神仙”合唱!《經典詠流傳》王珮瑜攜手廖昌永演繹三國情懷2025-07-09 16:39
Katy Perry talks 'Rise,' her next batch of songs, and how to survive Twitter2025-07-09 16:02
3月來b站補課:這樣的舞美設計充滿情懷2025-07-09 15:59
Honda's all2025-07-09 18:40
3·8女神節 李純打call天貓精靈QUEEN智能語音美妝鏡2025-07-09 18:27
《火線行動》2月12日優酷獨家上線 拳博大戲引爆燃點2025-07-09 18:14
【波盈足球】 世足梅西回春腳步戲耍克羅埃西亞鐵衛 英媒大讚「真是個天才」 ( 迪奧,梅西 )2025-07-09 17:15
Samsung Galaxy Note7 teardown reveals the magic behind the phone's iris scanner2025-07-09 16:58
獨播7部一月新番 ,9.6分神作真霸權 ,A站成ACG伊甸園2025-07-09 16:42
《獵心者》定檔3月9日 李佳航王玥兮拆謊破局2025-07-09 16:39
為了這件事 ,CARNAVAL DE VENISE 代言人田亮公開自我檢討 ?2025-07-09 16:39
Dramatic photo captures nun texting friends after Italy earthquake2025-07-09 16:14
正大玉膳坊聯手《我們的樂隊》,打造燃爆樂隊現場2025-07-09 16:11