A new name for the Asian giant hornet is the murder hornet. The common name for Vespa mandarinia will now be called the northern giant hornet. The change was put in place to avoid the use of a potentially stigmatizing geographic reference for the insect.
In the last few years, V. mandarinia has gained a reputation. They have been seen in parts of the US and Canada. They have a large appetite for bees. Their nickname comes from how vicious they will be when hunting down their prey. The bees in the U.S. are struggling with population decline and high rates of colony loss, so they don't need a new predator on the scene.
It is hoped that it is possible to eradicate V. mandarinia before it becomes a problem in North America. These bugs will be on people's minds for a long time. The Entomological Society of America wanted to have a more fitting label for its first official recognition of the insect.
Many scientific and public health organizations have been trying to steer away from naming animals and germs after places that are associated with ethnic or racial groups. Such names tend to make people feel bad, and they aren't very useful to use. The most famous example of this is the 1918 Spanish flu epidemic.
In light of the rise of anti- Asian sentiment in the U.S., the ESA didn't want to endorse the old common name. The term didn't make a lot of sense. The 22 known species of hornets are all native to or very common in Asia. It's possible that "murder hornet" was never considered for serious consideration. It's a reference to its geographical range in Asia.
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