What is the symbolism of the hornets in the novel, The Ardent Swarm?

The giant Asian hornets that invade Sidi's hives symbolize danger. When the hornets first arrive, they massacre thousands of Sidi's bees, and rob the hive. Because the hornets are unfamiliar, Sidi's bees have not developed a method of combatting them. The hornets parallel the Party of God, another invasive form of danger against which the vulnerable Nawa citizens are powerless to defend themselves.