Gov. Inslee highlights this danger so-called ‘murder hornets’ pose to Washington

Zach Kortge

Gov. Jay Inslee, concerned about the impact of Asian giant hornets on the state’s agriculture, attended a Washington State Department of Agriculture staff field training day about the capture and eradication of the so-called “murder hornets.”

“It’s something you can be impressed about, but also understand their danger to the whole state,” Inslee said in an interview with The Bellingham Herald Tuesday, July 12, at Birch Bay State Park.

“If you like pears, peaches or apples, you want to really make sure (giant Asian hornets) don’t come here permanently to the state of Washington.”

The hornets were first found in Washington state near Blaine in 2020.

Up to 2 inches long, the Asian giant hornet, or Vespa mandarinia, is the world’s largest hornet species. They are identifiable by their large yellow/orange heads. The hornets are known for their painful stings.

They will attack people and pets when threatened. People should be extremely cautious near them, state agriculture officials have said, and those who have allergic reactions to bee or wasp stings should never approach an Asian giant hornet.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee uses an antenna to track a transmitter during training for the capture of giant Asian hornets (Vespa mandarinia) held by the agriculture department at Birch Bay State Park on Tuesday morning July 12, in Blaine, Wash. The so-called “murder hornets” first appeared in the U.S. in Whatcom County during 2020.
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee uses an antenna to track a transmitter during training for the capture of giant Asian hornets (Vespa mandarinia) held by the agriculture department at Birch Bay State Park on Tuesday morning July 12, in Blaine, Wash. The so-called “murder hornets” first appeared in the U.S. in Whatcom County during 2020.

The invasive hornets are feared for the threat they pose to honeybees and, by extension, the valuable crops in Washington state that the bees pollinate.

Following a presentation on the methods used for tracking and trapping the hornets, the governor discussed the importance of the work, calling the employees “heroes” and the work they do “like science fiction.”

Washington State Department of Agriculture staff use live traps to detect the presence of giant Asian hornets in an area. Then, once captured, the hornets are outfitted with small tracking tags with the hope that they will lead trappers back to a nest.

Four nests have been removed in the past two years by officials on the team. Tuesday they demonstrated removing a nest with a vacuum.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, center, watches Washington State Department of Agriculture entomologist Sven-Erik Spichiger, left, describe the specialized equipment used to catch live giant Asian hornets (Vespa mandarinia) during a training session held by the agriculture department at Birch Bay State Park on Tuesday morning July 12, in Blaine, Wash. Personnel from the agency demonstrated the various ways in which they capture and track the invasive species and how citizens can help by identifying and reporting the insects.

The hornets are then used in research tracking the genetics of giant Asian hornet populations, or in the testing of more effective forms of bait.

However, you don’t need special equipment or bait to capture giant Asian hornets. Washington State Department of Agriculture has started two programs allowing citizens to participate in the eradication of giant Asian hornets.

One program asks citizens to create traps and log their location. The traps are cheaply made, consisting of a plastic bottle with holes cut in the sides and a mix of rice wine and orange juice to lure in the hornets.

Another program asks citizens to “adopt” a paper wasp nest, where interested volunteers can submit a weekly report of the nest.

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