Considered a pest, and a particular threat to honeybees, Asian hornets were accidentally introduced to Europe in 2004.

The following are some insects that might be confused for the Northern giant hornet — also referred to in the media as the “murder hornet” — which is not in North Carolina at this time. As of this writing, they have only been seen in the Pacific Northwest.

The Asian hornet (Vespa velutina), also known as the yellow-legged hornet or Asian predatory wasp, is a species of hornet indigenous to Southeast Asia. It is of concern as an invasive species in some other countries, including most of Europe.

European hornets and Asian hornets are two distinct species of wasps that are often confused due to their similar sizes and appearances. Both species have captured public attention in recent years, especially with the invasive introduction of the Asian hornet in some parts of the world.

The Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia) or northern giant hornet, [2] [3] including the color form referred to as the Japanese giant hornet, [4] [5] is the world's largest hornet. It is native to temperate and tropical East Asia, South Asia, Mainland Southeast Asia, and parts of the Russian Far East.