Now there's another threat: a non-native gypsy moth. Washington state bug hunters have located the first-ever Asian giant hornet nest in the U.S., it was announced Friday. The recent hubbub over the invasive species has also inspired unnecessary alarm and fear mongering as far as Washington State officials are concerned, according to The Mercury News. Murder hornets have been spotted six times in Washington state over the past two weeks, bringing the total number of sightings or captures in the U.S. to 12. It might've migrated from Canada, where a colony was discovered nesting in the ground. This spring, the WSDA started hunting for Asian giant hornets after two confirmed sightings of the predator. WSDA ask that you keep a lookout for the Asian giant hornet and report any sightings. Earlier this week, scientists said they had spotted Asian giant hornets in the state -- and it's still unknown how they got there. Washington saw the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the United States this year, as well as the first deadly cluster as the pandemic upended virtually all activity in the state. The nest was found after the state Agriculture Department trapped some hornets and used dental floss to attach radio trackers last week to some of them. Washington state and the Canadian province of British Columbia are the only places the hornets have been found on the continent. They’re setting traps in hopes of preventing the murder hornets from expanding their range beyond the Washington–British Columbia border area. The hornets, which were detected in Washington state, prey on bees and are known for ripping the heads off honeybees by the thousands, The New York Times reported on May 2. The Washington State Dept. Evidence of six of the hornets were found over the last week near the town of Blaine in Whatcom County, the Washington state Department of Agriculture told reporters. Washington state and the Canadian province of British Columbia are the only places the hornets have been found on the continent. Just when you thought 2020 could not get any worse. It's the first detection of this species in Washington. Multiple stings are deadly to humans and in their "slaughter phase" the hornets … The 2-inch (5cm) long Asian giant hornets, Vespa mandarinia, have been found in Washington state. SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Workers from the Washington 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 other 85 Asian giant hornets were vacuumed into a special container when the first nest discovered on U.S. soil was eradicated on Saturday, the agency said. Scientists removed 98 so-called murder hornets from a nest discovered near the Canadian border in Washington state over the weekend, including 13 that were captured live in a net, the state Department of Agriculture said Monday. Heavily protected crews in Washington state worked Saturday to destroy the first nest of so-called murder hornets discovered in the United States. Washington state and the Canadian province of British Columbia are the only places the hornets have been found on the continent. Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) announces a pest alert for the Asian giant hornet. The nest was found after the state Agriculture Department trapped some hornets and used dental floss to attach radio trackers last week to some of them. The Asian giant hornet, a 2-inch menace that feasts on honeybees, has invaded Washington state. Now the Asian giant hornet has entered the United States and is making a new home in Washington state. Washington State Department of Agriculture workers finish wrapping a tree in plastic after working to eradicate a nest inside of Asian giant hornets in Blaine, Wash., on Oct. 24, 2020. The Washington State Department of Agriculture is scouring the small town of Blaine for a nest after evidence of six of the giant hornets were found over … Now we have giant "murder hornets" with freakish eyes and a venomous sting to add to this year's list of worries. Washington State Department of Agriculture entomologist Chris Looney looks at two of the dozens of Asian giant hornets he vacuumed from a nest in a nearby tree. In this Oct. 7, 2020, photo provided by the Washington State Department of Agriculture, a live Asian giant hornet is affixed with a tracking device before being released near Blaine, Washington. The nest was found after the state Agriculture Department trapped some hornets and used dental floss to attach radio trackers last week to some of them. The state … Washington state crews wearing thick protective suits vacuumed the invasive hornets from the cavity of a tree into large canisters Saturday. of Agriculture says they've located an Asian giant hornet nest on a private property in Blaine ... and as you can see, the murder hornets set up shop inside a tree. Two more Asian Giant Hornets have been found in Washington state, according to agriculture officials. In December 2019, WSDA confirmed the identify of this invasive hornet found in Whatcom County. Washington state and the Canadian province of British Columbia are the only places the hornets have been found on the continent.The nest was found after the state … Sven Spichiger, Washington State Department of Agriculture managing entomologist, walks with a canister of Asian giant hornets vacuumed from a … The number of hornets found — nearly double the previous number discovered in the state — would indicate a nest has been established in the area, the agency said.