SEATTLE — The invasive species known as the “murder hornet,” recognized as the largest hornet in the world due to its dangerous sting and capability to decimate honey bee hives swiftly, has been declared eradicated in the United States. This announcement comes five years after its first sighting in Washington State, located near the Canadian border.
The Washington State and U.S. Departments of Agriculture made the announcement on Wednesday, highlighting that no northern giant hornet had been detected in Washington since 2021. This milestone signifies a major victory that benefited from community involvement, as residents placed traps on their properties and reported hornet sightings. Researchers played a crucial role by capturing a live hornet, attaching a small radio tracking device to it using dental floss, and following it to a nest located in an alder tree. This nest was destroyed just as a number of queens were starting to emerge from it, officials noted.
Sven Spichiger, a pest program manager with the Washington State Department of Agriculture, expressed his excitement during a virtual news conference. He remarked, “As an entomologist who has been in this field for over 25 years, it is truly rare for us to achieve a win against insects.”
Originally referred to as Asian giant hornets, these insects caught international attention in 2013 when they caused 42 fatalities in China and seriously injured 1,675 individuals. In the United States, approximately 72 people die each year from stings related to bees and hornets, data from the National Institutes of Health indicates.
The northern giant hornet was first identified in North America in British Columbia, Canada, in August 2019 and subsequently in Washington state in December of the same year after a resident from Whatcom County reported spotting one. In the summer of 2020, a beekeeper observed attacks on hives and provided specimens for confirmation. Experts suggested that these hornets may have arrived in North America via plant pots or shipping containers.
Genetic testing indicated that the populations in British Columbia and Washington were unrelated and likely originated from different countries. There have been no confirmed sightings of the hornet in British Columbia since 2021, with the nonprofit Invasive Species Centre declaring them eradicated in that province as well.
The northern giant hornet poses a grave threat to pollinators and native insect populations. Capable of destroying a honey bee hive within just 90 minutes, they decapitate bees and take over the hive, using the brood to nourish their own young. The hornet’s sting can penetrate most beekeeper suits and delivers almost seven times the venom of a honey bee, allowing it to sting multiple times. At one point, the Washington agriculture department had to procure reinforced suits from China for protection against these hornets.
Washington state has been the only region with confirmed sightings of northern giant hornets, with four nests discovered in the years 2020 and 2021. Spichiger assured that the state will remain vigilant despite the recent eradication report. He mentioned ongoing monitoring in Kitsap County, where a resident reported an unconfirmed sighting in October, though trapping efforts and public engagement yielded no results.
Additionally, Spichiger highlighted concerns over other invasive hornets that could pose threats. In Georgia and South Carolina, officials are currently addressing issues with yellow-legged hornets, while southern giant hornets have recently been detected in Spain. “We will continue to be vigilant,” he stated, emphasizing the importance of ongoing monitoring and community collaboration.