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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Vishwam Sankaran

Single ‘murder hornet’ queen may have led insect’s aggressive invasion of Europe

Washington State Department of Agriculture

So-called “murder hornets” in Europe probably descended from a single mated queen hornet that somehow arrived in France in 2004, according to a new study.

The Asian or yellow-legged hornet (Vespa velutina) is an invasive species in Europe and a known predator of other insects such as honeybees, hoverflies, and other wasps, posing risks to apiculture and biodiversity.

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