Five years after officials first spotted a giant, bee-killing hornet in Washington state, federal and state agencies announced that the “murder hornet” has been wiped out in the United States.
It has been three years since scientists and state officials have seen any of the northern giant hornet species, which are often called “murder hornets” for their massive size and ability to kill bees and injure humans with their sting. The long vacant period led the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Washington State Department of Agriculture to declare the invasive species, which is native to Asia, eradicated on Wednesday.
At 2 inches long, the northern giant hornet is the largest hornet in the world, and can kill an entire honey bee colony in under 90 minutes. It was first confirmed in Washington state in December 2019, setting off a five-year effort to find, trap and eradicate the hornets.
“We are proud of this landmark victory in the fight against invasive species,” said Mark Davidson, deputy administrator at USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, in a news release. “The success of this effort demonstrates what’s possible when agencies and communities unite toward a common goal.”
