State discovers second Asian giant hornet nest of year in Whatcom County

The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) has successfully identified its second Asian giant hornet nest this year.

State Department of Agriculture begins Asian giant hornet tracking effort

The WSDA found the nest southwest of where a separate one was found in August, “all within a few miles of each incident in North Whatcom County.” Workers were able to find it after tagging and tracking a pair of hornets spotted in Whatcom County earlier in the week.

Efforts to eradicate the new nest are underway now, and are expected to wrap up “in the next few days,” the WSDA reports.

UPDATE – Our team on the ground has located the second Asian giant hornet nest of 2021. Eradication plans are underway and will take place in the next few days. We will update when we have more information. pic.twitter.com/jD0RP5M8W2

— Washington State Department of Agriculture (@WSDAgov) September 10, 2021

All of 2021’s hornet sightings — as well as the first nest that was removed last month — have been in the same area where a nest was destroyed last year. The nest found in August 2021 was inside of a dead tree in Whatcom County east of Blaine.

WSDA workers vacuumed 113 hornets out of that nest, catching another 67 in the surrounding area using nets. An estimated 1,500 additional hornets in the nest were reported to be in “various stages of development.” The department credited help it received from the public in tracking down the nest, stressing the importance of reporting sightings of the invasive hornet.

State vacuums over 100 Asian giant hornets out of Whatcom County nest

It’s unclear at this time how many hornets the latest nest contains.

Asian giant hornets are not native to the United States. They are the world’s largest hornet and prey on honey bees and other insects. They are known to attack honey bee hives in the late summer or early fall, and a small group of them can kill an entire honey bee hive in a matter of hours.

Right now, the hornets are believed to be contained to northwest Whatcom County.

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