America 1, Murder hornets 0

The fearsome and aggressive Murder Hornets, a species of Asian wasp that appeared in North America after first being reported in British Columbia, Canada, in August 2019, and then a few months later in Washington State in December 2019, were causing great concern among experts and the public.

They have finally been officially eradicated, according to the Washington State and U.S. Departments of Agriculture.

Five years after so-called “murder hornets” were first discovered in the United States, Washington state and federal officials announced that the invasive species has been eradicated from the country.

— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast.bsky.social) 2024-12-19T01:17:15.683Z

In a rare human victory against an insect pest, the Washington State and U.S. Departments of Agriculture have announced the eradication of the deadly hornets, five years after they first appeared in the United States.

No reports of this species had been recorded since 2021.

According to experts, this species of deadly hornets arrived in North America from Asia, transported on cargo containers or potentially in plant pots.

Deadly hornets pose a serious threat to humans and ecosystems. Their large size, powerful venom and aggressive behavior make them a formidable threat.

Their stings are extremely painful and can cause severe allergic reactions.

They also endanger biodiversity and agriculture by decimating local bees, essential for pollination.

The USDA will continue to exercise heightened vigilance in areas where deadly hornets have been reported, including Washington State.

In Canada, a representative of the British Columbia government stated that the province is now free of deadly hornets.

He said the species was last detected in the Fraser Valley in 2021, with a single report that year, and that no sightings have been reported since.