'Murder Hornet' Eradicated from US

The United States has officially eradicated the world's largest hornet species, known as the "murder hornet," an invasive insect notorious for its dangerous sting and its ability to destroy honeybee colonies within hours.

The announcement comes five years after the species was first spotted in Washington State near the Canadian border.

Both the US Department of Agriculture and Washington State's agriculture department confirmed on Wednesday that no sightings of the giant northern hornet, previously known as the Asian giant hornet, have been recorded in Washington since 2021.

Sven Spichiger, an entomologist and pest program manager with Washington’s agriculture department, hailed the milestone during a virtual press conference, stating, "As an entomologist, I've been doing this for over 25 years now and it is a rare day when the humans actually get to win one against the insects.”

These hornets, measuring up to 2 inches (5 centimeters) in length, gained global attention in 2013 when they were linked to 42 fatalities and over 1,675 injuries in China.

In the US, sting-related deaths are not uncommon, with an average of 72 fatalities annually caused by bees and wasps, according to data from the National Institutes of Health.