Scientists Remove 98 'Murder Hornets' In Washington State
Source: AP News
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Workers from the state Department of Agriculture managed to destroy the first nest of so-called murder hornets discovered in the U.S. without suffering any stings or other injuries, the agency said Monday.
The nest, located in Whatcom County near the Canadian border, created concern because the Asian giant hornets are large and their sting can be lethal, especially if a person is stung numerous times. The hornets also pose a huge threat to honey bees that pollinate many crops.
“No one was stung and no one was even attacked that I am aware of,? said Sven-Erik Spichiger, an entomologist who directed the nest eradication Saturday near the town of Blaine.
Scientists recovered 98 hornets from the nest, including 13 that were captured alive in a net, the agency said.
“The WSDA is not selling any Asian giant hornet specimens,? spokesman Karla Salp said in response to questions from the public. The captured specimens will be given to various researchers, she said.
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/scientists-remove-98-murder-hornets-616a95fe52901a21e2e018a7b2a4a1e5
85 more Asian giant hornets in the nest were vacuumed into a special container and died. The nest was high up in an alder tree and was sealed with foam and shrink wrap. The hornets that remained inside were asphyxiated, Spichiger said.
The queen hornet was not collected, although she is expected to be inside the nest, Spichiger said.
"This is only the start of our work to hopefully prevent the Asian giant hornet from gaining a foothold in the Pacific Northwest.? he said, adding scientists will continue looking for a suspected one or two more nests in Whatcom County, near Blaine and Birch Bay.
= new reply since forum marked as read
