The “murder hornet,” or Japanese wasp, should not be taken lightly, for it is truly a dangerous insect. Its sting and venom really feels like you are being injected with a very hot liquid and the pain is lasting.
Unlike the Africanized honey bees, this wasp doesn’t require too many of them to do bodily harm or even death. I can attest to this, for I was stung back in September 1966, while stationed at Sakaiminato, Japan, while searching for the akebi fruit. I received three strings and the wasps retained their stingers to sting again.
These wasps built their nests underground and were difficult to detect. It’s unlikely for them to arrive in Anchorage at latitude 61 degrees north, while Sakaiminato is at latitude 35 degrees north. However, Southeast Alaska could harbor this wasp if it does migrate north.
— Douglas Panilo
Anchorage
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