Entomologist optimistic that Whatcom County’s giant hornets will be eradicated in next few years

We’re still two months out from the start of Asian giant hornet trapping season, but already the State Department of Agriculture is feeling hopeful.

State Entomologist Sven Spichiger tells TVW it’s promising that the hornets have not spread out from the northwest corner of Whatcom County.

State makes discovery about Asian giant hornets eradicated in 2021

In a bad situation, such as what happened with the yellow-legged hornet in Europe, the Asian giant hornets would have moved on to the rest of Whatcom County, other counties in Washington, and even other states.

But the fact that the hornets have stayed put in one area makes entomologists optimistic that the hornets can be eradicated within the next few years. Even if no hornets are spotted this year, it takes years without a sighting to officially declare them eradicated.

There is plenty you can do to help. Last year, all three nests that were eradicated began with citizen reports. The citizen scientist trapping effort will begin again at the start of July. To learn how you can make a trap, visit the Department of Agriculture’s website.