(The central square) – There is cautious optimism that the invasive and predatory northern giant hornet has been eradicated in Washington state.

But that’s not official yet. According to the Washington State Department of Agriculture, the Evergreen State must go three years without detection to meet the legal definition of eradication.

There have been no confirmed sightings of the northern giant hornet, formerly known as the Asian giant hornet or the more colorful “killer hornet,” since late summer 2021, when four nests were discovered and destroyed in Whatcom County in northern Washington along the Canadian border.

“No hornets have been sighted so far this year, but it is still early in the season,” Karla Salp, communications adviser for the WSDA, wrote in an email to The Center Square.

The northern giant hornet season typically runs from July to November.

“If we don’t find any hornets this year, we will probably declare them eradicated in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Agriculture,” Salp said. “That won’t be known until the end of the year, when all the traps have been set and the field traps have been deployed and checked, which will probably be in late December.”

Vespa mandarinia is native to temperate and tropical regions of East and Southeast Asia, including parts of China, India, Japan and Sri Lanka, and was first discovered in the Pacific Northwest in late 2019, coinciding with the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The insect is the largest hornet in the world, with queens growing up to 5 cm long. The apex predators are considered an invasive species in North America and are known for their aggressiveness and ability to kill bees and other hornet species.

A small group of northern giant hornets can wipe out an entire bee hive in a matter of hours. Honey bees pollinate many crops in Washington’s multi-billion dollar agricultural industry.

The Washington Invasive Species Council points out the potential impacts of allowing the non-native insect to take hold in Washington.

“The northern giant hornet poses a serious threat to honey bees and the honey bee industry in Washington,” the organization’s website states. “Although the extent of potential damage to the honey bee industry in Washington is not yet known, a similar hornet in Europe has reduced hives by 30 percent and up to two-thirds of honey yield.”

According to a U.S. Department of Agriculture press release earlier this year, Washington’s honey production in 2023 was 2.24 million pounds, down 19% from 2022. There were 83,000 honey-producing colonies, down 3,000 from the previous year. Yield per colony averaged 27 pounds, compared to 32 pounds per colony in 2022.

According to an October 2023 press release from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the value of Washington’s agricultural production in 2022 totaled $12.8 billion, surpassing the previous record of $10.4 billion set in 2015 and 27% higher than the revised prior year figure of $10.1 billion. The value of Washington’s crop production in 2022 was $8.6 billion, up 22% from 2021.

The powerful hornets rarely attack humans unless provoked. Repeated, powerful stings from the insect can cripple or even kill a person. The northern giant hornet is responsible for up to 50 deaths per year in Japan.

While the state’s coordinated response and eradication campaign over the past year appears to be paying off, WSDA officials want the public to continue to be on the lookout for the northern giant hornet and report any sightings.

People are urged to report sightings or evidence of a hive attack to WSDA by using the Hornet Watch Report Form, emailing [email protected] or calling 1-800-443-6684. Each report should include name and contact information, location and date of sighting or attack, a photo of the hornet or damage, and a description of the loss or damage to the hive.