First live ‘murder’ hornet of 2021 spotted in Washington state

WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. — The Washington State Department of Agriculture confirmed the first live “murder” hornet sighting of 2021 in the state.

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A homeowner sent state officials a report Aug. 11 that included a photo of a giant Asian hornet attacking a paper wasp nest, KIRO reported. The sighting was about two miles from where the first giant hornet nest was found last year.

“This hornet is exhibiting the same behavior we saw last year — attacking paper wasp nests,” Sven Spichiger, WSDA managing entomologist, said in a statement. “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.”

State agriculture officials plan to set traps in the area where the giant hornet was sighted to catch, tag and track it.

There have been two confirmed reports by the public of giant hornets this year in Washington. None have been detected in traps this year.

The giant hornets are an invasive species that prey on honey bees and other insects.

“A small group of Asian giant hornets can kill an entire honey bee hive in a matter of hours,” agriculture officials said.

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