First Deadly ‘Murder Hornet’ is Captured in Washington State by Agriculture Officials who are in a Race Against Time to Find the Nest Before Mating Season Begins

The Washington Department of Agriculture captured its first Asian giant hornet with a bottle trap in Whatcom County. It is the first Asian giant hornet caught in a trap rather than in the environment. Officials have two months to locate and remove the remaining Asian giant hornets before mating season begins in mid-September. They are relying on a mix of traps and infrared cameras to track the species. Asian giant hornets are also known as ‘murder hornets’ because of their fatalistic stings and aggressive attacks on prey. They first arrived in the U.S. in December 2019, but sightings were reported earlier this year.