VANCOUVER, Wash. — The Washington State Department of Agriculture Pest Program is asking the public to be on the lookout after a live yellow-legged hornet was found on a ship at the Port of Vancouver in Vancouver, Washington.
The hornet, capable of decimating honey bee colonies, was discovered by a WSDA grain inspector on April 30.
The inspector noticed and photographed the hornet on a ship that had arrived from South Korea.
The hornet was killed, but the photo was sent to the WSDA Pest Program for review. WSDA entomologists agreed it appeared to be a yellow-legged hornet.
A size comparison of a honey bee compared to a yellow-legged hornet. (WSDA)
“This is the first time a live one has actually been seen anywhere on the west coast that we’re aware of,” said WSDA Pest Program Manager Sven Spichiger.
WSDA Pest Program and US Customs and Border Protection staff inspected the ship and the surrounding area for evidence of hornets. While no additional hornet evidence was found, the WSDA has placed traps in the area as a precaution.
“This hornet is native to Southeast Asia,” said Spichiger. “It was introduced into several countries, including South Korea, among others, and also into Europe, where it quickly spread and started causing up to 30% losses in honey bee colonies.”
Spichiger described the hornet as a very serious threat to agriculture.
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He said honey bees are used to produce honey, but they’re also a source of pollination for many of our key crops.
“This is a hornet that we really never wanted to show up in the United States,” said Spichiger. “They will capture a honey bee, chop it up a little bit, and just take back one of the body parts and feed it to their young.”
The yellow-legged hornet was detected in Georgia in 2023 and spread to South Carolina in 2024. Both states are currently working to eradicate the yellow-legged hornet population.
Spichiger said it’s possible the hornet flew onto the ship in Vancouver, but it also could be a single hitchhiking hornet that flew on somewhere in South Korea.
While not as large as the invasive “murder hornets” finally eradicated in Washington in 2024, yellow-legged hornets could do even more damage to honey bee colonies.
As a precaution, WSDA is asking the public in Vancouver and surrounding areas to be on the lookout for and report suspected yellow-legged hornet sightings.
If possible, officials said they would like anyone who spots one to take a photo of the hornet. If it is safe to do so, collect the specimen, put it in the freezer, and report the sighting to WSDA.
You can report sightings by emailing hornets@agr.wa.gov or going to this website.