First Known 'Murder Hornets' Nest Destroyed, Scientists Say It's 'Not End Of Story'

The first-ever found Asian giant hornet nest in Washington has been destroyed. Experts say the eradication of the nest is "not the end of the story" as they continue their search for more of the invasive pests.

On Oct. 24, experts from the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) started a mission to eradicate the Asian giant hornet nest discovered in a private property in Blaine. At the time, the team captured 98 worker hornets, 85 of which were vacuumed out of the tree while 13 others were caught alive.

In the second part of the mission, on Oct. 29, experts removed a part of the tree with the nest and split it open. They found two new queens there. There were also many live workers still in the nest, although none of them were flying, the WSDA said in a blog post.

"They are pretty intimidating, even for an inch-and-a-half insect," WSDA entomologist Chris Looney told The Guardian. "They are big and loud and I know it would hurt very badly if I get stung. They give me the willies."

Finding new queens is rather concerning. Asian giant hornets did not earn the name "murder hornets" because of the threat they pose to humans. It is due to their ability to decimate a honeybee colony within hours.

What's troubling is the evidence that overwintering queens tend to bury themselves in hay and straw, both of which are often moved across the U.S. by humans, Looney told The Guardian. This opens up the prospect of human movement inadvertently aiding the spread of the invasive pests.

"I'm more worried about human transportation of these hornets than I initially was." Looney told the outlet.

Looney noted that it's still unclear how the hornets survive or thrive in North America, adding that international trade has played a role in bringing them to the region.

Although the nest in Washington State has been discovered and razed, experts are still on the lookout for the species. This includes analyzing the nest and specimen that they recovered.

"They will record data such as the number and caste of adult specimens, the number and size of the nest cells, overall nest size, weight and length of collected specimens, and more," the WSDA blog said, noting that all the results will also be shared with the public.

"Although the first nest has been found, this is not the end of the story," WSDA said in the blog. "There is still time to find another nest this year and residents are still asked to report Asian giant hornet sightings."

Citizen scientists have been playing an important part in the mission. This includes placing traps or even just reporting possible sightings.

The WSDA is even helping citizens distinguish Asian giant hornets from other insects through their #ThatIsNotAnAsianGiantHornet campaign.

Anyone who thinks they may have spotted an Asian giant hornet in their area should report it by sending an email to hornets@agr.wa.gov or calling 1-800-443-6684.

As for the threat posed by the species, Looney noted that while it is a cause of concern, it should be "low on the anxiety meter," The Guardian reports.

"We should be concerned about it but we will do our best until the money runs out or the battle is won or lost," Looney told the outlet. "If we fail, it will be unpleasant. But there are other things to be much more worried about right now."