One Asian giant hornet found in B.C., but none detected in Whatcom County

Later this month state scientists will ask the public to end their Asian giant hornet trapping efforts for the year after both scientists and the public have turned up empty-handed on more sightings of the world’s largest hornet since the last eradication.

Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA), the state agency in charge of eradicating the invasive species from Whatcom County and the rest of Washington, hasn’t seen a hornet since the agency eradicated the fourth hornet’s nest found in 2021 on September 23. 

The 2021 nests were located in east Blaine near nest zero, the first hornet nest eradicated in the U.S. Scientists eradicated the nests in late summer between early August and late September. No other hornets were found outside of Whatcom County this summer and fall, when the insect is the most active.

Despite the U.S. detections just miles from the border, B.C. officials found no signs of the hornet until late October. On October 22, a decayed hornet was found in a Japanese beetle trap just under 1 mile from the first hornet eradication in the U.S. this year. According to WSDA, the hornet was found in a beetle trap that hadn’t been looked at since September 21. Canadian entomologists are now analyzing the hornet’s DNA to determine whether it’s related to hornets in Washington. Scientists across the border will check their traps until the end of the trapping season.

WSDA is trapping for hornets until November 30, when the queens are expected to start hibernating for winter. State entomologists are still asking the public to look out for the hornets; the first hornet found in the U.S. was discovered in early December 2019. The hornets are known for their orange-and-black bodies that grow up to 2 inches long and almond-shaped eyes.

To report a suspected Asian giant hornet detection, visit agr.wa.gov/hornets, email hornets@agr.wa.gov or call 800/443-6684.