From U.S. News & World Report:
The Washington state Department of Agriculture has started hunting for Asian giant hornets after two confirmed sightings of the predator.
The Washington state Department of Agriculture started hunting for Asian giant hornets after two confirmed sightings of the predator.
The confirmed sightings in December were accompanied by two unconfirmed but probable sightings, The Skagit Valley Herald reported Sunday.
The sightings were in Whatcom County along the state's northern border.The Asian giant hornets can attack and kill a honey bee colony within hours and scientists expect the hornet to emerge again this spring.Tim Lawrence, director of the Washington State University Island County Extension and a honey bee expert, said the queen hornets come out of hibernation in April to feed on plant sap and fruit.
The goal is to eradicate the queens before they establish populations and pose threats to honey bees, which farmers rely on for crop pollination, Lawrence said....MOREThe fear is for the honeybees but they mess with people as well.
From CNN: