The Washington State Department of Agriculture announced Wednesday the “murder hornet” has been eradicated from the Evergreen State.

 

“We’re pleased to announce the eradication of the northern giant hornet in Washington state,” Derek Sandison, WSDA director, said. “I’m incredibly proud of our team, which has dedicated years of hard work to safeguarding our state and the nation from this invasive threat to our native pollinators and agriculture. I’d also like to acknowledge the federal, state, and local support that made this feat possible. This success is the result of our combined efforts.”

 

Three years of trapping has found no northern giant hornets in Washington state.  The USDA's Dr. Nicole Russo said it was an amazing effort to find and destroy the nests.

 

"This team had to capture a live hornet, attach a tiny telemetry tag to the insect, and then had to track this insect back to its nest using receivers, listening for beeps while simultaneously looking for flying hornets in the area." 

 

A total of four nests were found and destroyed.  The eradication success was the result of a multiyear effort to find and eradicate the hornets, which began in 2019. It involved extensive collaboration between state, federal, and international government agencies as well as significant support from community members and groups, especially in Whatcom County.  The WSDA’s Sven-Erik Spichiger, said this doesn't mean they stop looking for the giant hornets and other invasive species.

 

"Although it is an absolutely significant victory, we won this battle, the battle will continue, we will continue to be vigilant."

 

The northern giant hornet is dangerous, not only because it can attack people, but more importantly for the farming community, the hornet kills colonies of other bees.  Had the hornets become established in the country, they could have posed a significant threat to honey bees and other pollinators and native insects. Northern giant hornets are able to kill an entire honey bee hive in as little as 90 minutes. They also pose a threat to human health as their sting is more dangerous than that of a honey bee.

 

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