Invasive 'Murder Hornets' Officially Eradicated from the U.S.

Five years after their first sighting in Washington state, officials confirm the northern giant hornet has been eliminated, protecting pollinators and agriculture.

The northern giant hornet, also known as the 'murder hornet,' has not been detected in the U.S. since 2021, prompting officials to declare the species eradicated.
The invasive hornets, native to Asia, posed a significant threat to honeybees, capable of destroying entire hives in under 90 minutes, and endangered pollinators critical to agriculture.
Eradication efforts began in 2019 and included public reports, trapping, and the use of radio trackers to locate and destroy nests in Washington state.
Four nests were eradicated between 2020 and 2021, with no further confirmed sightings in the U.S. or British Columbia since then.
Officials emphasize continued vigilance to prevent reintroduction, as invasive species often arrive via international shipping or other means.