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Murder Hornets in the USA: What Really Happened from COVID to Now
- Pete Rizzo
- Sep 22, 2025
- 7 min read
Updated: Nov 1, 2025
Back in 2020, when the world was already on edge from the pandemic, another alarming headline began spreading like wildfire: "Murder Hornets Have Arrived in the U.S."
The phrase instantly captured attention and stirred up fear. It sounded like something out of a murder hornets movie, and with everything else happening, people were ready to believe the worst.
As a beekeeper, I paid close attention from the very beginning. Anything that threatens honey bees also threatens food security, pollination, and our honeybees.
While the media fueled panic with dramatic headlines, the scientific reality told a very different story.
Let's revisit what actually happened, where things stand today, and why this invasive hornet still matters for beekeepers like us.
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What Are “Murder Hornets”?
The insect that earned the nickname "murder hornet" is officially known as the Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia).
These are the largest hornets in the world, native to parts of Japan, China, and Southeast Asia.
Murder Hornets Size: How Big Are They Really?
The sheer murder hornets size is part of what makes them so alarming. Queens can grow up to two inches long with a wingspan of three inches, making them significantly larger than any hornet native to North America.
Workers typically measure 1.5 inches, still impressively massive compared to the common honeybee's half-inch length.
For perspective, they're roughly three times the size of a European hornet, which itself is already considered large by North American standards.
Can Murder Hornets Kill You? Understanding the Real Risk
Can Asian giant hornets kill you? Yes, but it's extremely rare and requires specific circumstances.
Their venom contains neurotoxins that can be dangerous, especially in multiple stings or to those with allergies. In their native range in Asia, roughly 30-50 deaths occur annually, typically from anaphylactic shock or when people accidentally disturb nests and receive dozens of stings.
A single murder hornet sting delivers more venom than a typical bee or wasp, approximately seven times more than a honeybee sting. The pain is often described as intensely sharp, like a hot nail being driven into the skin.
However, for most people, even multiple stings, while extremely painful, are not fatal. The real danger comes from:
Allergic reactions to the venom
Receiving 10 or more stings in a short period
Being stung near vital areas like the throat
Underlying health conditions
So while can murder hornets kill you is a valid concern, the risk to humans in the U.S. has been virtually nonexistent, with no reported fatalities during the entire incident.
Why They're a Concern for Bees
Here's what sets them apart as a threat to pollinators:
A handful of Asian giant hornets can kill tens of thousands of honey bees in just a few hours
They decapitate bees, carrying off their thoraxes to feed their young
Honey bees in North America have no evolved defense strategies against this predator
For beekeepers, the idea that a single hornet attack could wipe out a thriving hive in one afternoon is terrifying.
The First Discovery During COVID
The first confirmed sightings of Asian giant hornets in North America happened in late 2019 in Washington State and British Columbia, Canada.
By early 2020, as the pandemic was unfolding, news outlets picked up the story and gave it the perfect doomsday name: “murder hornets.”
The timing couldn’t have been worse. People were already overwhelmed with lockdowns, uncertainty, and fear of COVID-19. The thought of giant hornets sweeping across the country was enough to make headlines explode.
In truth, scientists were investigating only a handful of confirmed cases. The panic was driven far more by dramatic headlines than by the actual scope of the problem.
Comparing to Other Hornets: The European Hornet
It's worth noting that North America already has an established invasive hornet species: the European hornet (Vespa crabro).
Introduced in the 1800s, the European hornet is now common across much of the eastern United States.
While European hornets can occasionally prey on honeybees and are intimidating due to their size (up to 1.5 inches for queens), they're far less destructive than Asian giant hornets.
European hornets primarily hunt other insects and are generally less aggressive toward bee colonies.
They also don't engage in the devastating "slaughter phase" that Asian giant hornets employ, where they systematically destroy entire hives in hours.
The presence of European hornets shows that not all invasive species become catastrophic threats, but this is also why prevention and early detection matter so much.
Tracking and Containing the Hornets (2020–2022)
Once the sightings were confirmed, authorities moved quickly to stop the hornets before they could spread further. The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA), along with the USDA and Canadian officials, launched an aggressive monitoring program.
Finding the Murder Hornets Nest
Locating a murder hornets nest became the primary objective, as these nests are where the threat multiplies.
Asian giant hornet nests are typically built underground or in hollow trees and can house 100-200 workers at their peak.
A mature nest can be the size of a basketball or larger, with multiple layers of comb housing larvae and pupae.
Some of the most notable strategies included:
Radio-tagging hornets: Researchers captured live hornets, attached tiny radio transmitters, and followed them back to their nests
Nest eradication: Once a murder hornets nest was located, teams in protective suits vacuumed out the hornets and destroyed the colony
Public involvement: Residents were asked to report any unusual hornet sightings, giving scientists valuable leads
Trapping networks: Hundreds of traps were deployed across the region to catch any foraging hornets
By the end of 2022, officials had destroyed multiple nests in Whatcom County, Washington, near the Canadian border. Thanks to these swift actions, the hornets were contained before they could gain a stronger foothold.
The Current Situation in 2025
Fast forward to today, and here's the encouraging news:
Confirmed sightings of Asian giant hornets remain limited to a very small region in Washington State
No established populations have been reported outside of that area
Aggressive monitoring and eradication efforts appear to have worked, keeping the species from spreading widely across the United States
The last confirmed nest was destroyed in 2021, with no verified sightings in subsequent years
The nightmare scenario that many feared in 2020, hornets sweeping coast to coast, never came to pass. While there's always a chance of reappearance, ongoing surveillance has given scientists the tools to catch and contain them early.
Why It Still Matters to Beekeepers
Even though the public fear has mostly faded, Asian giant hornets still matter deeply to beekeepers.
Honey bees are already under heavy pressure from multiple threats, including:
Varroa mites
Pesticides
Habitat loss
Climate shifts
Adding a hornet capable of destroying entire colonies in hours would be devastating. That’s why I continue to watch invasive species reports closely.
Protecting honey bees isn’t just about saving hives, it’s about safeguarding pollination, which underpins much of the food system we rely on every day.
Lessons Learned from the Murder Hornet Scare
Looking back at the murder hornet story, there are a few important takeaways:
Media sensationalism can create unnecessary panic. While the threat was real, the name “murder hornet” caused more fear than the actual spread warranted.
Early action works. The reason this species hasn’t taken hold in the U.S. is because agencies acted quickly to track, trap, and destroy nests.
Beekeepers are on the frontlines. Because we’re so closely connected to pollinators, beekeepers were among the first to raise alarms and support monitoring efforts.
Context matters. Understanding the actual risk, both to bees and to humans, helps us respond appropriately without unnecessary fear.
The Bottom Line
The murder hornet story isn’t one of widespread invasion, it’s actually a success story of science, vigilance, and cooperation.
As of 2025, Asian giant hornets remain contained in a very small area of Washington State, with no evidence of nationwide spread and no recent confirmed sightings.
That doesn’t mean the threat is gone forever. As a beekeeper, I’ll always keep an eye on reports of invasive species, because the health of honey bees is directly tied to the health of our food supply. But I can say confidently that the catastrophic headlines of 2020 never became reality, thankfully.
So, should you worry about murder hornets in your backyard? Probably not. What you should do is stay informed and recognize the role bees play in our lives.
That’s the real takeaway from this story, and it’s why we wanted to share the full picture with you.
Betsy & Pete
🐝Las Vegas’s All-Natural Live Bee Removal Team
About Us: The Authors
We’re Betsy and Pete - Beekeepers on a Mission in Las Vegas
We’re not just in the bee business, we’re in the bee-saving business. Trained by a master beekeeper and backed by hundreds of successful removals, we are dedicated to rescuing and relocating honey bees with care and precision.
Every swarm we save and every hive we manage reflects our deep love for the bees.
At our Joshua Tree Preserve in Arizona, we care for dozens of thriving hives. Some wild, some honey-bearing, and all are part of our commitment to ethical, sustainable beekeeping.
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Beekeeping is always evolving, and so are we. We stay on the cutting edge by continuing our education, connecting with fellow beekeepers, and refining our beekeeping practices and techniques to ensure the best outcomes for both bees and people.
Whether it’s advanced bee removal strategies or the latest natural methods, we’re always one step ahead.
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