First live "murder hornet" of 2021 has been spotted near Canadian border
The hornets, the world's largest known species, are invasive and prey on bees and other insects.
Officials in Washington State say they've sighted the first live Asian giant hornets of 2021, and have begun tracking measures to locate and eradicate their nests.
The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) said in a news release that a resident of Whatcom County, not far from the British Columbia border, reported the sighting.
"This hornet is exhibiting the same behaviour we saw last year – attacking paper wasp nests,” WSDA 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.”
The discovery comes after a dead specimen was found in June just north of Seattle, though officials at the time said its condition suggested its death pre-dated the current season.
On Friday, the WSDA announced on Twitter that it had captured, tagged, and released two of the hornets in an effort to find their hive. The Vancouver Sun notes that B.C. authorities are carrying out their own tracking efforts.
Asian giant hornets are invasive, and at 5 cm in length, are the largest known species hornet. They prey on honeybees and other insects, and their large size makes it difficult for native species to withstand their attacks.
Though they aren't abnormally aggressive toward humans, their stings are known to be painful.
