'Murder hornets' eradicated in the US, officials say

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c77jdjm02mvo

'Murder hornets' eradicated in the US, officials say

Max Matza
BBC News, Washington state

Agriculture and wildlife officials have announced that they have eradicated the infamous "murder hornet" from the US, five years after the headline-generating insects were first spotted in Washington state.

Northern giant hornets - the bugs' official name - have not been detected in the US for three years, the Washington State Department of Agriculture announced on Wednesday.

The invasive insects, which are native to Asia, have a powerful sting which can kill a human. They can also spit venom, although they are not normally aggressive against humans unless disturbed.

They target honeybees, which pollinate crops, and can destroy an entire bee colony in just a matter of hours.

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