How to Stop the Invading Giant Hornets (2020) 1:45
(CNN) -
The "murder hornet" is no more.
At least his name isn't that anymore.
The Entomological Society of America (ESA) and the Entomological Society of Canada have adopted a new name for the murder hornet, also known as the Asian giant hornet, saying "the use of 'Asian' in the name of an insect pest may unintentionally reinforce anti-Asian sentiment," especially "amid a surge in hate crimes and discrimination against people of Asian descent."
The ESA adopted the name "northern giant hornet" for the species in its database of insect common names.
Since all wasps are native to Asia, the name Asian giant hornet does not convey unique information about the biology or behavior of the species, according to the ESA.
Chris Looney, an entomologist with the Washington State Department of Agriculture, authored the name change proposal, saying the species' previous common name, scientifically called Vespa mandarinia, "is, at best, a neutral and uninformative adjective, potentially a distraction from the body's most prominent figures and, at worst, a racist trope."
Monarch Butterflies Could Go Extinct If We Don't Take These 3 Steps, Experts Say
"I don't want my Asian-American or Pacific Islander colleagues, friends and family to have negative connotations with invasive species or pests that could be used against them in a negative way," said ESA President Jessica Ware.
advertising
In 2021, the ESA updated its guidelines for acceptable insect common names to ban names that refer to ethnic or racial groups or that may cause fear, and discourage names that refer to geographic areas, especially for invasive species.
"Common names are an important tool for entomologists to communicate with the public about insects and insect science," Ware said in a statement Monday.
"The northern giant hornet is scientifically accurate and easy to understand, and avoids fear or discrimination."
The northern giant hornet poses a potential threat to bees, human health and agriculture, said Karla Salp, acting director of communications for the Washington State Department of Agriculture.
In 2019, the hornet now known as the northern giant hornet was found in Washington state, and efforts have been underway ever since to eradicate the species entirely.
The public helped find three of the four nests that have been eradicated in the state, showing that public awareness is critical.
Washington state is the only US state that has had confirmed sightings of northern giant hornets, but the species could find habitat elsewhere in the Pacific Northwest if left unchecked, according to a 2021 study in the Journal of Insect Science.
"If allowed to become established in regions within North America, the northern giant hornet could have a significant impact on local ecosystems," according to ESA's common name toolkit for the northern giant hornet.
"Northern giant hornets do not generally attack people, but will if provoked or threatened," the toolkit said.
"Its stinger is longer than that of bees and wasps found in North America, and its venom is more toxic."
Northern giant hornets aren't the only thing causing damage to bee hives, and the word murder evokes fear, Ware said.
She hopes the name change will allow people to learn and understand the species from a broader perspective.
"Although the northern giant hornet has some negatives, like all 1.5 million species of insects out there, it has a complicated life," Ware said.
"Some parts of its life history and ecology are really fascinating. It's been around for millions of years before humans came on the scene."
Ware encourages people to apply to the Better Common Names Project if there is an insect name they think should be changed.
Hornet
