First murder hornet nest of 2021 discovered near Canada-U.S. border
The year's first nest of Asian giant hornets, or so-called "murder hornets," has been discovered near the Canada-U.S. border.
The Washington State Department of Agriculture says the nest was found in a rural area east of Blaine, Wash., not far from where a resident reported a live sighting last week.
WSDA officials caught, tagged and released three hornets with tracking devices in the area in the days that followed.
“One hornet slipped out of the tracking device, another hornet was never located, and one eventually led the team to the nest,” wrote the WSDA in a release.
Entomologists will now develop their plans to eradicate the nest, most likely next week.
Asian giant hornets are an invasive species and prey on honey bees and other native insects.
Experts say if they establish in B.C., they may pose a serious threat to our beekeeping and commercial pollination industries, which in turn will have serious consequences for local agriculture.
They typically nest in underground cavities, or above ground in tree stumps of forested areas.
"A small group of Asian giant hornets can kill an entire honey bee hive in a matter of hours,” warned the WSDA.
Asian giant hornets are the largest hornets in the world.
They are found throughout South and East Asia, and researchers believe they were likely brought to North America accidentally on container ships.
The insects were first seen in B.C. in 2019 in Nanaimo.
Several dead hornets were found in the Southern Fraser Valley last year, but no nests have been discovered as of November 2020 according to the Invasive Species Council of B.C.
Anyone who spots a Asian giant hornet is asked to report it to the council at 1-888-933-3722 or on its website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.