Invasive Murder Hornets Declared Eradicated in the U.S.

Murder Hornets Eradication Announcement

SEATTLE (AP) — The world’s largest hornet, an invasive breed dubbed the ‘murder hornet’ for its dangerous sting and ability to slaughter a honey bee hive in a matter of hours, has been declared eradicated in the U.S., five years after being spotted for the first time in Washington state near the Canadian border.

The Washington and U.S. Departments of Agriculture announced the eradication Wednesday, stating that there have been no detections of the northern giant hornet in Washington since 2021.

This achievement reflects substantial community involvement, with residents placing traps on their properties and reporting sightings, in addition to researchers capturing a live hornet, attaching a tiny radio tracking tag to it with dental floss, and tracing it to a nest in an alder tree. Scientists successfully destroyed the nest just as several queens began to emerge.

‘I’ve gotta tell you, as an entomologist — I’ve been doing this for over 25 years now, and it is a rare day when the humans actually get to win one against the insects,’ said Sven Spichiger, pest program manager for the Washington State Department of Agriculture, during a virtual news conference.

The hornets, which can grow up to 2 inches (5 cm) long, previously gained notoriety in 2013 after they killed 42 people in China and injured over 1,600. In the U.S., it is estimated that around 72 individuals die from bee and hornet stings annually, according to the National Institutes of Health.

The hornets were first detected in North America in British Columbia, Canada, in August 2019 and confirmed in Washington State later that year. Experts suggest that these hornets likely traveled to North America in plant pots or shipping containers.

DNA evidence indicated that the populations found in British Columbia and Washington were unrelated and originated from different regions. Notably, there have been no confirmed reports of the hornet in British Columbia since 2021. The Invasive Species Centre in Canada has also concluded that the hornet is eradicated there.

With their capacity to wipe out a honey bee hive in as little as 90 minutes, northern giant hornets pose significant threats to pollinators. They can decapitate bees and subsequently take over the hive, claiming the brood for their young.

The hornet’s venom is potent; it can sting multiple times and deliver nearly seven times the quantity of venom compared to a honey bee. In response to this threat, the Washington agriculture department previously ordered specially reinforced suits from China.

Despite the eradication announcement, Spichiger emphasized the need for ongoing vigilance in monitoring potential sightings, particularly in Kitsap County where an unconfirmed sighting was reported last October. Trappers have deployed efforts there without encountering additional hornets.

Other invasive hornets also pose risks, with officials in Georgia and South Carolina combatting yellow-legged hornets and southern giant hornets recently discovered in Spain.

‘We will continue to be vigilant,’ Spichiger affirmed.