BELLINGHAM – It’s a little early to declare an invasion, but Thursday at noon the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed that a second Asian Giant Hornet was found in Washington State, this time in Bellingham.
The local resident found the specimen wiggling on their porch and stepped on it. The hornet was submitted through the Hornet Watch Report Form at agr.wa.gov/hornets. WSDA collected the sample and state and federal labs confirmed that it is an Asian giant hornet.
The first hornet found in our state was in the town of Custer, 15 miles north of Bellingham along I-5, on May 27. They’re the only known specimens found in the US so far. Another was found in British Columbia, Canada this Spring as well.
Agriculture officials are concerned about the invasive species because they are aggressive toward honeybees and other pollinators and can wipe out an entire hive very quickly.
A government trapping program to determine the scope of the problem is just getting underway in the northwest, and the public is encouraged to set up their own bee traps.
Find out everything you need to know about building your own trap and how to report if you find one by going to the Dept. of Agriculture’s Facebook page. (click here).