Many might have cheered at the eradicated Asian giant hornet nest last year, but the fight against the invasive species isn’t over in Whatcom County. The first live Asian giant hornet seen in 2021 was recently spotted in east Blaine, just two miles from where the first nest in the U.S. was eradicated in October.
On August 11, a hornet was photographed preying on a paper wasp nest under the eaves of a house near H Street Road. Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) confirmed the sighting August 12.
“This hornet is exhibiting the same behavior we saw last year – attacking paper wasp nests,” WSDA managing entomologist Sven Spichiger said. “If you have paper wasp nests on your property and live in the area, keep an eye on them and report any Asian giant hornets you see. Note the direction they fly off to as well.”
WSDA will attempt to track the hornet back to its nest by setting live traps in east Blaine to catch the hornet and then follow it back to its nest using a tag, according to a WSDA media release.
The first Asian giant hornet nest found in the U.S. was eradicated October 24, 2020 in a tree near Burk Road. The invasive species, first sighted in Whatcom County in 2019, can grow up to 2 inches long. Worker hornets emerge in late summer and can destroy honeybee hives in a matter of hours.
To report a hornet sighting, visit agr.wa.gov/hornets, email hornets@agr.wa.gov or call 1-800/443-6684.
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