Province says B.C. murder hornet-free after U.S. announces eradication of invasive pest

In recent years, the invasion of the infamous “murder hornets” in British Columbia and Washington state garnered considerable attention due to their destructive capabilities and the alarming sight of decapitated bee corpses in their wake. However, after five years of dealing with the presence of northern giant hornets in regions like Nanaimo on Vancouver Island and border towns such as Blaine and Abbotsford, American authorities have declared that the invasive species has been successfully eradicated in the United States.

While officials in British Columbia are more cautious in their assessment, they do confirm that the province is now considered “northern giant hornet-free.” According to a statement from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the last hornet was found in the Fraser Valley in 2021, marking the only sighting of the year. Annual surveillance and monitoring efforts in the Fraser Valley concluded in 2024, with plans to resume if any new findings are confirmed in the future.

Northern giant hornets, scientifically known as Vespa mandarinia or Asian giant hornets, are notorious for their voracious appetite, particularly preying on honey bees by consuming their heads and stripping off their wings and legs. With just a small number of hornets capable of decimating an entire honey bee hive in as little as 90 minutes, these insects pose a significant threat to honey producers and the agricultural crops that rely on honey bees for pollination.

Originating from China, Japan, and Thailand, northern giant hornets are the largest of their kind globally, with queens reaching lengths of up to five centimetres and wingspans ranging from four to seven centimetres. Thanks to the vigilance of alert citizens, the Washington State Department of Agriculture was able to locate and destroy four hornet nests discovered inside alder tree cavities in 2020 and 2021.

One of the nests was uncovered following the tracking of a trapped hornet equipped with a tiny tracking device, leading state entomologists to a nest in close proximity to the Canada-U.S. border. Dr. Mark Davidson, deputy administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, expressed pride in the successful eradication of the northern giant hornet, emphasizing the protection of pollinators, crops, and the industries, communities, and ecosystems that depend on them.

Sven Spichiger, WSDA pest program manager, credited the public’s support for the eradication efforts and emphasized the ongoing vigilance required to prevent the reestablishment of the invasive species. While the northern giant hornets have been eradicated from the state, continuous monitoring and community engagement remain crucial to prevent their return and safeguard the local ecosystem and economy from potential threats.