In 2019, a Northern giant hornet was spotted for the first time in Washington State. This type of wasp preys on honeybees and can destroy a hive in hours, earning it the nickname “murder hornet.” Now, after years of hard work, state officials have eliminated this invasive species.
Scientists think the hornets originated in South Korea, though they aren’t certain how the insects reached North America. After they were first discovered, the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) asked members of the public to help track down the insects. Then the WSDA removed the hornets’ nests before the wasps could spread.