Pest Alert: Asian Giant Hornet

What is the Asian giant hornet?
The Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia) is the world’s largest hornet and is native to Asia. The Asian giant hornet is a quarantine pest for the United States and is a serious pest of honeybees and other insects. A quarantine pest is a pest of potential economic importance, possibly present in the area of concern but not widely distributed, and officially regulated by the USDA APHIS. Learn more about quarantine pests by visiting the The Food and Agriculture Organization website.

ASIAN GIANT HORNET FOUND IN WASHINGTON STATE. FROM WA STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE HORNET PEST ALERT AGR PUB 809-816

Where has it been found?
In 2019, these hornets were found in British Columbia, Canada and Blaine, Washington. As of June 1, 2020, it has not been found in Oregon. However, if the Asian giant hornet does make its way into Oregon, it will threaten Oregon’s honeybees and poses a risk to humans. According to the Oregon Department of Agriculture, the Asian giant hornet is expected to attack the same things in this region that they attack in their native range: medium to large sized insects (large beetles, katydids, mantids, caterpillars).

MAP SHOWING REPORTS (AS OF JUNE 8, 2020) OF ASIAN GIANT HORNET FROM THE WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE’S HORNET WATCH REPORT FORM. VIEW THE CURRENT 2023 MAP HERE

Are they dangerous?
Yes! Use extreme caution near Asian giant hornets. While they do not generally attack people or pets, they can attack when threatened. Not only can the Asian giant hornet sting multiple times, their stinger is longer than that of a honeybee and the venom is more toxic than any local bee or wasp. Typical beekeeping protective clothing is not sufficient to protect you from stings.

Asian giant hornet Identification Tips:

• Large wasps about 1.25 to nearly 2 inches long

• Large, yellow-orange head with prominent eyes

• Black and yellow striped abdomen

• Forms large colonies that usually nest in the ground

• Significant numbers of killed honeybees in or around a hive - they are typically snipped into pieces

IMAGE FROM WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, BUGWOOD.ORG, AND USDA APHIS PPQ.

Does it look like other insects? 
Some local insects have been confused with Asian giant hornets, including those listed below which are NOT Asian giant hornets. Remember, unlike the local insects below, Asian giant hornets are LARGE wasps 1.25 to nearly 2 inches long. Click here to view the Giant Hornet (Vespa mandarina) and Oregon Look-a-likes poster, which was created by Oregon Department of Agriculture.

• Paper wasp

• Bald faced hornet

• Yellow jacket

• Elm sawfly

The Washington State Department of Agriculture recently started a social media campaign called #ThatIsNotAnAsianGiantHornet which consists of putting a picture of an Asian giant hornet next to a picture of an insect that has been reported (but is not Asian giant hornet).

Credit: Dave Wilkes

Credit: Joel Nielsen

Credit: USDA APHIS

What should you do if you think you’ve seen an Asian giant hornet?
Do not kill what you think might be an Asian giant hornet and do not approach a suspected colony! Not only is it potentially dangerous, misidentification by well-intentioned members of the public can result in the killing of native bees and other insects. Instead, the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) is asking that you report it immediately here: https://oda.fyi/HornetReport. If you do not have internet access, you can make a report by calling 503-986-4636.

Additional Resources:

• USDA New Pest Response Guidelines for Asian Giant Hornet

• Resources from the Washington Department of Agriculture:

  • Information for Beekeepers

  • Join the Asian Giant Hornet Watch Facebook Group

  • Asian Giant Hornet Fact Sheet for farmers, gardeners, hunters, hikers, and outdoor workers. Available in Spanish: Farmers and outdoor workers

  • WSDA Virtual Press Conference (Recorded May 29, 2020): https://youtu.be/dzDgxBw48pM

The information above was compiled from the Oregon Department of Agriculture Pest Alert, Washington Department of Agriculture Hornet Webpage, and the USDA New Pest Response Guidelines for Asian Giant Hornet.

*Asian Giant Hornet Update from WSDA (7/24/2020)*

On July 24th, the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) released an Asian giant hornet stakeholder update. Below are a few important takeaways from the update:

• Volunteers have put up over 1300 traps, which is in addition to the hundreds of traps managed by WSDA!

• The Washington Invasive Species Council contributed $3,000 toward the cost of billboards in Whatcom County, WA to help raise awareness and encourage reporting of Asian giant hornets.

• WSDA is partnering with the Washington State University Master Gardeners to provide a training (August 11 at 10 a.m.) for Master Gardeners who might be answering questions or receiving suspected Asian giant hornet specimens from clients. Master gardeners who are interested in participating in this webinar should contact their program coordinator for  information on how to attend the training.

All Asian giant hornet stakeholder updates from WSDA can be found here. If you would like to receive updates from WSDA’s Pest Program on Asian giant hornet (and other topics), click here.

Thank you for your interest in protecting Oregon from invasive species. To learn more about the Oregon Invasive Species Council and to report sightings of invasive species, please visit https://www.oregoninvasivespeciescouncil.org/report-an-invader and follow us on Facebook & Twitter.

(Post updated August 19, 2020)

June 2020 Meeting Update: COVID-19

Due to the risks of coronavirus spread, the Oregon Invasive Species Council (OISC) will be postponing the regional stakeholder meeting in Central Oregon to a later date and we will instead hold a virtual business meeting on June 2, 2020 from 12:30-4:30 pm. A meeting agenda and remote participation details will be posted to the OISC Meetings page as it becomes available. 

Other upcoming events are on the OISC Events page. If you would like to share details about an upcoming invasive species event, or any other relevant information, please feel free to share that with the OISC coordinator at coordinator@oregoninvasivespeciescouncil.org.

The OISC is considering other virtual options to engage with invasive species managers and members of the public during this time. If you have any suggestions for how we can support virtual engagement or promote one of your events, please let us know.

2019 Invasive Plant Accomplishments Report for Pacific Northwest Region (USDA Forest Service)

The final 2019 Invasive Plant Program Accomplishments Report for the Pacific Northwest Region was recently released by USDA Forest Service. The report includes accomplishments of their State partners and lists the 170 different partners they collaborated with to control invasive plants on the National Forests in the Pacific Northwest Region. Check out the report here.

Recap of 9th Annual Columbia Gorge Invasive Species & Exotic Pest Workshop

There are many annual conferences and meetings related to invasive species management that occur throughout the Pacific Northwest. One that should not be missed is the Columbia Gorge Invasive Species & Exotic Pest Workshop (ISEP). On February 27th, land managers from numerous agencies and organizations gathered in Stevenson, WA to share on-going projects and learn from one another’s experiences. The event was co-hosted by the Columbia Gorge Cooperative Weed Management Area (CWMA), the Washington Invasive Species Council, Washington State University Extension, and The United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. 

OISC Member Wyatt Williams of Oregon Department of Forestry presents to the meeting attendees.

OISC Member Troy Abercrombie (Western Invasives Network, Cascade Pacific RC&D) and Sam Leininger (Clackamas Soil & Water Conservation District) pose with a pest.

The workshop contained a great blend of presentations that touched upon a variety of taxa and strategies for invasive species management. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife highlighted the threat invasive bullfrogs pose to the state-listed Western Pond Turtle, while the Oregon Department of Forestry provided an overview of a variety of plants, insects, fungi, and diseases that threaten our PNW forests. Most importantly, information was shared on how to detect these species, prevent their introduction or limit their spread, and what progress is being made to reduce negative impacts. Additionally, the Boise Bicycle Project and Friends of the Columbia Gorge shared the amazing progress that each group has had in reducing puncture vine (Tribulus terrestris) in Boise and the incredible volunteer engagement that occurred after the Eagle Creek Fire of 2017 in the Columbia Gorge. For more details on presentations and announcements that occurred at the meeting, please visit: columbiagorgecwma.org/2020-isep.

Whether you are a land manager working in the Pacific Northwest, or an engaged community member that appreciates our natural environments, consider joining the Columbia Gorge CWMA and partners for their 10th annual workshop in 2021.

Thank you to OISC Member Alex Staunch of Mosaic Ecology for writing this News Channel post.

City of Portland Invasive Species Strategy 2020-2030 ("Invasives 2.0")

The City of Portland has announced the passage of a resolution package by Portland City Council that sets the stage for the next decade-plus of citywide invasive species targets, action plans, and policies. The City of Portland Invasive Species Strategy 2020-2030 ("Invasives 2.0") is the continuation of work that began in 2005 when the city developed an invasive plants strategy that resulted in policy and municipal code changes that were considered groundbreaking at the time for a city to implement. Invasives 2.0 continues that tradition, with goals and objectives that expand Portland’s policies to include invertebrates that threaten not just natural areas and the urban forest, but also traditional grey infrastructure such as pipes and pumps. Check out the two documents linked below:

• The City of Portland: Invasive Species Strategy 2020-2030, Portland at the Crossroads

• The City of Portland: 2020-2030 Invasives Strategy Report

For more information, please contact Dominic Maze with City of Portland Environmental Services (dominic.maze@portlandoregon.gov).