Federal and state agricultural authorities announced Wednesday that the northern giant hornet, popularly known as the “murder hornet,” has been successfully eliminated from U.S. territory after a five-year eradication campaign.
The declaration comes after three years without any confirmed sightings of the invasive insect, which was first discovered in Washington state following its initial North American detection in British Columbia in 2019. Officials noted that Washington’s infestation appeared to originate from a different source than the Canadian occurrence.
The successful elimination required extensive coordination between various government agencies and relied heavily on public participation. According to Sven Spichiger, Washington State Department of Agriculture’s pest program manager, community involvement proved crucial, with public reports leading to all nest discoveries and half of all confirmed sightings.
Between October 2020 and September 2021, authorities eliminated four nests found in alder tree cavities in Whatcom County. Continued monitoring through 2024 revealed no further hornet activity in the area. A recent unconfirmed sighting in Kitsap County prompted officials to schedule precautionary trapping for 2025, though follow-up investigations yielded no additional evidence.
The eradication effort was deemed critical due to the species’ potential threat to American ecosystems. The hornets, native to various Asian countries, can devastate honey bee colonies in less than two hours and possess a notably potent sting. Dr. Mark Davidson of the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service emphasized that the success protected not only pollinators but also the broader agricultural economy and ecosystem that depends on them.
The achievement marks a significant milestone in invasive species management, demonstrating the effectiveness of coordinated response efforts between government agencies and community engagement.
