Invasive 'murder hornets' found in Washington have been eradicated, officials say

The hunt for invasive “murder hornets” is over in Washington and the rest of the U.S. after three years without confirmed detections, state and federal officials said Wednesday.

“It is a rare day when the humans actually get to win one against the insects,” said Sven Spichiger, Washington State Department of Agriculture pest program manager.

The insects — more formally known as northern giant hornets — posed a significant threat to honey bees and other native insects in the Pacific Northwest. They can kill an entire hive in as little as 90 minutes by decapitating the bees.

Officials described the search for the hornets as something like a scene out of a movie. Teams captured one of the 2-inch hornets, attached a small tag to the insect, and tracked it back to its nest by listening to radio transmitter beeps.

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2024/12/18/invasive-murder-hornets-found-in-washington-have-been-eradicated-officials-say/