The Asian Giant Hornet (Vespa mandarinia) is the world’s largest hornet species. This formidable insect is notable for its considerable size, with queens reaching over 2 inches in length and possessing a wingspan of approximately 3 inches.
Native Geographic Distribution
The Asian Giant Hornet is indigenous to a wide range of temperate and tropical regions across Asia. Its natural habitat spans countries including southern China, northern India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, Taiwan, Thailand, and parts of the Russian Far East. These hornets typically inhabit low mountains and forested areas. Within these native ranges, they are common and well-established, preferring to construct nests underground, often in abandoned rodent burrows or cavities near tree roots.
Global Invasion and Establishment
Outside its native Asian range, the Asian Giant Hornet has been detected and established in North America. The first confirmed sighting occurred in August 2019 on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, where a nest was subsequently located and destroyed. In December 2019, two dead hornets were found near the Canadian border in Blaine, Washington State, marking the first confirmed presence in the United States. Additional sightings and nests were confirmed in Whatcom County, Washington, and southwestern British Columbia in 2020 and 2021. While initial concerns arose about their potential to establish widely, efforts were initiated to contain their spread.
Pathways of Introduction
The exact means by which Asian Giant Hornets arrived in North America are not definitively known, but accidental transport via international trade routes is the most probable pathway. These insects likely stowed away in shipping containers or other cargo from their native Asian habitats. Such unintentional introductions are common for many invasive species as goods are transported globally. A mated queen could have found refuge within packaging materials or freight. This method of spread allows species to bypass natural geographical barriers like oceans, reaching distant continents.
Current Monitoring and Control Efforts
In regions where the Asian Giant Hornet has been detected outside its native range, significant monitoring and control efforts have been implemented by government agencies and scientific organizations. In Washington State, the Department of Agriculture (WSDA) and their Canadian counterparts have led surveillance programs, including widespread trapping and public reporting. When hornets are captured, attaching tiny radio trackers to live specimens is employed to follow them back to nests. Once a nest is located, eradication strategies involve vacuuming hornets from the nest and injecting carbon dioxide. These coordinated efforts aim to prevent the establishment and widespread reproduction of the Asian Giant Hornet in non-native areas, with the species declared eradicated from the United States in December 2024.