More Murder Hornet Nests Could Be Found in the U.S.

A nest of Asian giant hornets, other wise known as murder hornets, has been captured in Washington. The invasive species is native to Japan and South Korea and pose a threat to the pacific northwest in several ways. They target and slaughter whole colonies of honeybees, which are crucial to the environment. They can also spit venom and inflict numerous stings that can be deadly to humans. In late October, experts were able to successfully capture a nest that housed almost 500 hornets, 200 of which were potential hive queens. That was more than scientists had anticipated and they believe they got to this hive in the “nick of time.” However it may not be the end of them. There’s no way to be certain researchers captured all of the hornets and they expect to find additional nests with more queens. Tracking and trapping procedures will continue for at least three years. The good news is there’s hope they can get the population under control.