The “Giant murder hornet” is as bad as it sounds

There’s a new invasive species on American soil, and it’s particularly terrifying. The first reports that Asian giant hornets, a species that entomologists simply call “murder hornets,” were filed last fall in Washington state. In the intervening months, researchers have worked to eradicate the hornets’ burgeoning populations, according to the New York Times.

Invasive species in general can wreak havoc (pdf) on ecosystems. A lack of natural predators allows many to overrun local flora and fauna, sometimes driving them to extinction. But the Asian giant hornet, native to the warmer climates of Asia, is really bad news in the US. “If it becomes established, this hornet will have negative impacts on the environment, economy, and public health of Washington State,” according to the state’s agriculture department.