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The first of the two-inch large insects on American soil was discovered in Washington state late last year. The Asian giant hornet, nicknamed killer wasps, is native to East Asia.
After several weeks of searching, Washington Department of Agriculture employees managed to find the first nest. Four live horns had been captured and three of them were equipped with a small radio transmitter, so that researchers could follow one of those returning to the nest.
Photo: Elaine Thompson / POOL / AFP
The nest was discovered in one trees on private land near Blaine, not far from the Canadian border. It was as big as a basketball and did not last long after discovery. Dressed in protective gear from head to toe, equipped with carbon dioxide, plastic film and some kind of suction device, the nest was removed on Saturday and around 100-200 horns were captured.
The tree will be cut down to see if there are newborn horns, or if any queen has managed to leave the nest, says The Guardian.
The Asian hornet, which is an invasive species in the United States, is the largest hornet in the world. Its sting can be painful and it can also spit venom. The insects themselves cause dozens of deaths each year in Asia, but despite the moniker, the main problem with horns is that they feed on honey bees. According to the Washington Department of Agriculture, a small group of giant horns can kill bees in an entire hive in a matter of hours.
Photo: Quinlyn Baine
Read more: Asian Killer Discovered in the US for the First Time
