Murder Hornets Et Al — How Afraid Should We Be?

We should be very afraid, but not of being stung. Even if you live in an area where Asian Giant Hornets live, you should have little fear of being stung. These hornets do not get aggressive with humans unless they are being disturbed. So, just walking by a few will not provoke any response.

What you should be afraid of is two-fold. First, they are an invasive species and second, insect populations are in grave danger and their health is directly related to our survival.

As an invasive species, if these wasps prosper they will displace native species and alter the local environment in unknown ways. Because native species have had time to adapt and develop, they have become an integral part of their environment. Newly introduced species can wreck havoc. They can have an impact on more than just other hornets and wasps. They affect the natural order of things and disrupt food chains for other animals including us. For example, Asian Giant Hornets can ravage honey bee populations and, well, you see the connection.

A much bigger and scarier threat that should make you fear for our very survival is that insects are disappearing at a devastating rate and this could wipe out our species. Studies show that insect populations have dropped anywhere from 40% to 75% in just three or four decades. This incredible extinction…