Northern Giant Hornet (Vespa mandarinia) on Aug 5, 2020
Submitter does not have a specimen
Description of specimen
Oversized hornet with large stinger. Not sure if it’s indeed a “murder hornet” but reporting in case.
Commentary
Dear John, thank you for contacting us. Luckily, this is not the Asian giant hornet, but a harmless wood wasp, the pigeon tremex, Tremex columba. The long “stinger” is a drill for boring through the bark of broadleaved trees such as cottonwoods and laying eggs underneath. The larvae develop under the bark and bore into the wood of very stressed, dying, or recently dead trees. Thank you, Helmuth Rogg
Helmuth Rogg
Aug. 6, 2020, 12:15 a.m.