The Asian giant hornet, also known as the “murder hornet,” is having its name changed by North American entomological groups over concerns the bug’s original name creates a racist stigma.
The new name — northern giant hornet — was adopted Monday by the Entomological Society of America (ESA) and the Entomological Society of Canada to describe the species that is heavily concentrated in Japan, Korea, Taiwan and other parts of Asia.
The ESA said that the invasive species was first spotted in America’s Pacific Northwest and Canada’s British Columbia in 2019, but it gained the colloquial name “murder hornets” after May 2020 media coverage focused on the insect’s excruciating sting that’s filled with neurotoxins.