B ack in May, amid all of the news about the pandemic and stormy politics, “murder hornets” were found for the first time in Washington. “Murder hornet” is a term coined by Japanese researcher Junichi Takahashi “to reflect the insect’s aggressive hunting of bees,” reports National Geographic. The hornets often pick up honeybees to feed to their young, and their stings (when struck several times) are strong enough to kill a human. You could say, during our bravest moments of 2020, we might’ve agreed with one Twitter user: “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself and ‘murder hornets.’” WAIT … WHAT HAPPENED TO ‘MURDER HORNETS’?
Now, it’s August. The pandemic is still here, but what happened to the hornets?
This isn’t actually the Asian giant hornet’s first time on American soil. A few lone sightings happened in 2019 near a hummingbird feeder, and in 2016, an entire hornet nest was found inside an international package.
An entomologist named Allan Smith-Pardo was charged
RESTAURANT-STYLE FETTUCCINE ALFREDO
with identifying the suspicious wasps. He concluded that the package was likely “a gourmet treat or even a health aid,” since the “collected adults, pupae, and larvae were soaked in liquor.” The “hornet liquor” was likely designed to help ease arthritis pain.
Cooking brings people closer together every day. With a fettuccine alfredo technique so simple and delicious, you and your loved ones will enjoy it every step of the way.
INGREDIENTS
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Salt
1 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano Freshly ground pepper, to taste Fresh parsley, chopped, to taste
Luckily, today’s “invasion” is far from an invasion we should worry about.
2 tbsp butter
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1 clove of garlic, finely chopped 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
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“The Asian giant hornet poses very little risk to humans, especially given that they are believed to be in extremely low numbers and only in Washington State and British Columbia,” says Karla Salp, the public engagement specialist at the Washington State Department of Agriculture. Since the original finding, only a couple more hornets have been found.
1 large egg yolk
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1 lb fresh fettuccine
1 lemon wedge
DIRECTIONS
1. In a large pot, bring 6 quarts of generously salted water to a boil. 2. In a large, deep skillet, while the water heats, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant and sizzling (about 2 minutes). 3. In a bowl, whisk heavy cream and egg yolk until blended and pour into garlic butter. 4. Reduce heat to medium-low. Stir until hot, not boiling. Keep warm on low heat. 5. In the large pot, cook pasta until al dente. (The pasta will float once it’s done.) Reserve about 1/2 cup pasta water and drain pasta. Pour hot pasta into cream mixture and toss to coat on low heat. 6. Add Parmigiano-Reggiano and keep tossing gently until cream is mostly absorbed. If the sauce is absorbed too much, toss with extra pasta water. Season with salt and pepper to taste. 7. Serve with parsley and a squeeze of lemon.
While researchers theorize that there are queens somewhere out there, they’re most likely nowhere near Texas. Enjoy your hikes, “murder hornet”-free!
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