WA eludes invasive hornet for a second straight year
Dec. 6—For the second year in a row, no northern giant hornets were detected in Washington state, the Washington State Department of Agriculture reported this week.
The department recently completed its annual invasive pest survey and will begin removing more than 800 northern giant hornet traps that have been monitored since July. Another 200 traps were placed throughout the state by federal state and local agencies, community groups and private citizen scientists.
Greg Haubrich, plant protection assistant director for the department, said although no giant hornets have been detected "there is still work to be done to make sure these hornets have not established here. It is possible the hornets could be out there. We still need the community's continued support to report suspected sightings and participate in our citizen science trapping program next year."
The department said U.S. Department guidelines state that the northern giant hornet cannot be considered eradicated until the department has three consecutive years without a confirmed detection.
The northern giant hornet — once called the "murder hornet" because of its size and its predation on other insects, including honey bees — caused a stir four years ago when it was detected in western Washington and British Columbia. The hornet is native to southeastern Asia, where it is sometimes cultivated for culinary purposes and its venom is used to enhance alcoholic drinks. It is not known how the insect came to be found in the U.S.
The northern giant hornet is just one of more than 130 species that the department's pest program looks for each year. These pests pose a threat to the state's agricultural industry, although many have not yet been found in the state.
The spotted lantern fly is one such pest. It has never been detected in Washington but it is causing significant damage to vineyards, farms and gardens in several states in the eastern U.S. The department has been monitoring for the insect and collaborating with the Washington Invasive Species Council to create a state spotted lantern fly response plan.
The pest has shown a remarkable ability to spread quickly and hitchhike, with dead specimens being found as close as Oregon and California.
Joshua Milnes, an entomologist with the department, said being prepared "will give us our best chance to prevent this pest from establishing when it gets here. Washington residents should know what this pest looks like and snap a photo and report it immediately if they think they see it."
Other major pests the program has monitored this year include the apple maggot, Japanese beetle and spongy moth.
Anyone wishing more information about the state's pest program may visit online: agr.wa.gov.
Hedberg may be contacted at khedberg@lmtribune.com.
