US scientists track and destroy nest of 'murder hornets'

Swarms of giant species with nasty sting poses threat to ‘environment, economy and public health’

A sample specimen of a dead Asian Giant Hornet from Japan, also known as a murder hornet. Scientists discovered a nest of the hornets in the US state of Washington after tracking the insects. AFP

Washington State Department of Agriculture workers pull on protective suits before attempting to eradicate a nest of Asian giant hornets from a tree in Blaine, near the US border with Canada, early on October 24, 2020. AP Photo

Washington State Department of Agriculture workers vacuum a nest of Asian giant hornets discovered in a tree. AP Photo

Scientists wanted to destroy the murder hornets, a non-native species, to protect local honeybees. AP Photo

Washington State Department of Agriculture entomologist Chris Looney fills the tree cavity with carbon dioxide after vacuuming a nest of Asian giant hornets from inside it. WSDA via Reuters

Residents watch scientists destroy a nest of Asian giant hornets in Blaine, Washington. AFP

Washington State Department of Agriculture scientists disconnect hoses from a canister after vacuuming Asian giant hornets out of their nest. AP Photo

An entomologist uses dental floss to tie a radio tracking device on to one of three Asian giant hornets used to track down their colony to a tree near Blaine in Washington state. WSDA via Reuters

The radio tracking device fitted on an Asian giant hornet. WSDA via Reuters

Sven Spichiger, Washington State Department of Agriculture managing entomologist, smiles as he walks with a canister of Asian giant hornets vacuumed from a nest in a tree behind him. AP Photo

Sven Spichiger displays the canister of Asian giant hornets vacuumed from a nest in Blaine, Washington on October 24, 2020. AP Photo

Asian Giant Hornets can deliver painful stings to people and spit venom but are the biggest threat to honeybees that farmers depend on to pollinate crops. AFP

Workers wearing protective suits have eradicated the first nest of giant “murder hornets” discovered in the United States, vacuuming them out of a tree in Washington state.

The nest of Asian giant hornets was found on Thursday by Washington State Department of Agriculture entomologists on a property in Blaine, near the border with Canada, the agency said.

They spent weeks searching for the nest, trapping hornets and tracking them, using dental floss to tie tiny radio trackers on the insects, which are about five centimetres in length and have a painful sting.

Before dawn on Saturday, a team of workers dressed from head to toe in protective suits vacuumed the insects out of their nest in the cavity of a dead tree.

“Got ’em. Vacuumed out several #AsianGiantHornets from a tree cavity near Blaine this morning,” the state agriculture department said on Twitter later on Saturday, along with a video showing a mass of hornets in a transparent container.

It said the removal of the nest appeared to have been successful.

Scientists in Washington state have been actively searching for the Asian giant hornet since the first such insect was detected in December 2019.

One of the wasps was trapped in July in Whatcom County, where Blaine is, and Canada found Asian giant hornets in two places in neighbouring British Columbia.

Several more of the invasive pest, which is not native to the US, were subsequently caught, all in the same region.

The WSDA believes there is a good chance that there are more nests.

“Stopping this cold is very crucial,” said Sven Spichiger, an entomologist with WSDA.

“If it becomes established, this hornet will have negative impacts on the environment, economy and public health of Washington State,” the WSDA said.

Scientists say that unless the insect is eliminated in the next couple of years, it could spread in North America and become established permanently.

The hornets, which are native to East Asia and Japan, usually do not attack people but they are known for destroying honeybee colonies.

They slaughter the bees by biting their heads off, then occupy the bee nests for a week or more, feeding on the pupae and larvae.

In Japan, where the insects are hunted and eaten, about 30 to 50 people die each year from their venomous and excruciating sting.