The northern giant hornet, dubbed the “murder hornet” for its aggressive nature and potentially deadly sting, has been eradicated from the United States five years after it was first identified in the country, officials announced on Dec. 18.
Formerly known as Asian giant hornets, the invasive species was first detected in North America in British Columbia, Canada, in August 2019. A few months later, the species, native to Asia, was confirmed in Washington state when a resident of Whatcom County reported a specimen in December 2019.
Although the two discoveries were made within a close timeframe and proximity, DNA evidence suggested that they resulted from two separate introductions, as specimens from each location appeared to originate from different countries….