No northern giant hornets found in 2022 in Washington state or B.C.
Confirmed sightings of the pest were last recorded in 2021
Citizen trapping of northern giant hornets in northwest Washington ended Nov. 30 without any confirmed sightings of the hornets this year, state officials said Tuesday.
The Washington State Department of Agriculture also said that no confirmed sightings of the hornets were reported nearby in British Columbia, Canada. The northern giant hornet is native to Asia and has been the target of eradication efforts after hornets were discovered in both locations in 2019.
More than 1,000 northern giant hornet traps were set over the summer by Washington state residents and entomologists. Hornets caught in traps help scientists find the location of nests.
Officials said while there have been no confirmed sightings, it's still important to be on the lookout for the hornets and report any, dead or alive, to the state Agriculture Department's website.
According to state entomologists, the northern giant hornets season typically runs from July through November. The hornets will not be considered eradicated until Washington has gone three years with no detection. Confirmed sightings of the pest were last recorded in 2021.
The insects are the world's largest hornets, with queens reaching up to five centimetres long. They are considered invasive in North America for their ability to kill other bee and hornet species, which is how they got their nickname "murder hornets."