5 ms·
It’s in contrast to vespa soror, the southern giant hornet, which inhabits more southern climates in Asia. Both of them are giant hornet species from Asia so “
by wlesieutre 2y ago
It’s in contrast to vespa soror, the southern giant hornet, which inhabits more southern climates in Asia.
Both of them are giant hornet species from Asia so “Asian giant hornet” isn’t a unique descriptor.
- ungruntled 2y agoIt seems that the adoption of the southern/northern names was in part related to what GP is referring to. https://entsoc.org/news/press-releases/northern-giant-hornet-common-name-vespa-mandarinia https://entsoc.org/news/press-releases/northern-giant-hornet...
- kleton 2y agoThey could have gone with northern asian hornet, to follow proper taxonomy of including general and specific.
- greggsy 2y agoThe only Asian country that is distinctly ‘northern’ is North Korea, and the media wouldn’t have shied away from using it in fear of people making the connection. At the end of the day, the whole argument is stupid.
- lobochrome 2y agoWhat? Japan, China, Russia, Mongolia?
- woodruffw 2y agoI think they meant in terms of American cultural understanding, not latitude. I suspect most Americans don’t think of Russia as in Asia (despite the fact that it is) or Japan as being as far north as it actually is.
- lupusreal 2y agoThe premise that the USDA avoided calling this the Northern Asian Giant Hornet to avoid the implication that this came from North Korea seems quite absurd to me.
- woodruffw 2y agoThe premise was “Asian,” not “Northern Asian.” The latter appears to be speculation in this thread.
- lupusreal 2y agoHuh? The North Korea confusion angle was raised to explain why they might not have called it the Northern Asian Giant Hornet to distinguish it from the Southern Asian variety. That's what I'm responding to, nested in the thread.
- bell-cot 2y agoIn a better world, it would be absurd. But America has quite a few no-excuse-is-too-weak xenophobes, who have a documented history of violence against random strangers, for the "crime" of looking "Asian".
- lupusreal 2y agoThat could explain why they don't want to call it Asian, but not why they would want to avoid an implication that it came from North Korea specifically.
- bell-cot 2y agoI'm not paying close attention here, but the "because North Korea..." seems like a useful diversion, if your goals look like: 1 - Announce the seeming eradication of a dangerous invasive species 2 - While minimizing "any excuse" xenophobic human nastiness related to saying "Asian" 3 - And disguise your second goal, to minimize accusations of "pro-Asian Wokery" (or whatever phrase the nut jobs on that side of the culture wars are currently using) from your #2 4 - Also minimize left-wing backlash (I've no clue what phrases they'd use) to your #3 scheme 5 - ...
- wlesieutre 2y agoIt’s like saying “Asian panda” or “South American giant anteater.” There’s no other place with giant hornets, so why would the name include it?