It’s the end of a nightmare.
The invasive species known as “murder hornets” have been eradicated from the United States, according to an announcement made Wednesday, marking the end of a five-year battle since they were first detected in Washington state.
The northern giant hornet, which has not been spotted in the U.S. for three years, was declared eradicated by the Washington and U.S. Agriculture departments. This announcement follows years of coordinated efforts involving local, state, federal, and international agencies, alongside significant community support.
Washington Agriculture Director Derek Sandison expressed pride in the team’s dedication to eliminating the threat to native pollinators and agriculture, while Sven Spichiger, pest program manager, acknowledged the crucial role the public played in reporting hornet sightings, which led to the detection of nests.
The northern giant hornet was first identified in British Columbia in August 2019 and was discovered in Washington state later that year. Efforts to locate and destroy hornet nests began soon after, with multiple nests eradicated in 2020 and 2021. The species posed a serious threat to honeybees and other pollinators due to its ability to destroy entire hives in a matter of hours, and its sting is more dangerous to humans than that of a honeybee.
While a sighting of a suspicious hornet was reported in Kitsap County, Washington, in October, the species was not confirmed, and no new hornets have been found since. Authorities continue to monitor the area with traps and plan to keep up their efforts into 2025. The state agriculture department remains vigilant, encouraging the public to report any future hornet sightings to help ensure the invasive species does not return.
