Murder Hornets in the USA: What Really Happened from COVID to Now
- Pete Rizzo
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 6 hours ago
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 disaster 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 fragile ecosystems. But 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.
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. Queens can grow up to two inches long, making them an intimidating sight.
So why are they such a concern? Here’s what sets them apart:
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.
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.
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 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
So, should you worry about murder hornets in your backyard? Probably not. What you should do is stay informed, support pollinator health, 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
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