A report of a potential northern giant hornet, the invasive species sometimes referred to as “murder hornets” when they surfaced in Washington state nearly five years ago, is being investigated in South Kitsap.
A Washington State Department of Agriculture spokesperson said Monday that a photograph was sent by a resident near Burley of a dead hornet found on a home’s windowsill. The WSDA is now investigating to see whether the hornet is the same as the species that was last found in Washington in 2021, when four northern giant hornet nests were eradicated in Whatcom County, two years after the hornets were located for the first time ever in the United States near the town of Blaine. Northern giant hornets pose a risk to honey bee hives, as they can attack and destroy hives quickly and then take over the hives as their own, according to WSDA. They don’t pose a risk to humans, but can attack if agitated, WSDA’s website says.
WSDA Public Information Office Amber Betts said the agency will now obtain the specimen and do genetic testing to confirm whether it is a northern giant hornet and related to the hornets found in Whatcom County in 2020. That would indicate that the same hornets may have migrated and still exist. She said no northern giant hornets have been observed in Whatcom County during 2022, 2023 and through 2024, as the agency has continued monitoring.