Attack of the Killer Hornets

    Murder hornets are also known as northern giant hornets. They are the largest wasps in the world. These insects naturally live in Asia. So how did they land in the U.S.?

    Scientists didn’t know. But they were worried. The hornets could become an invasive species. This is a plant or animal that spreads in a new environment and harms species already living there.

    Murder hornets rarely kill humans. But they can seriously harm honeybees. In just hours, about 20 murder hornets can kill tens of thousands of bees. These deadly attacks can affect humans too. That’s because honeybees are pollinators. They help food grow by carrying pollen from plant to plant. Without honeybees, foods like berries and avocados could be in danger. 

    Murder hornets are also called northern giant hornets. They’re the largest wasps on Earth. They naturally live in Asia. So how did they land in the U.S.?

    Scientists didn’t know. But they were worried. The hornets could become an invasive species. That’s a plant or animal that spreads in a new place and harms species already living there.

    Murder hornets rarely kill humans. But they can badly harm honeybees. In just hours, about 20 murder hornets can kill tens of thousands of bees. These attacks can affect humans too. How? Honeybees are pollinators. They help food grow by carrying pollen from plant to plant. Without honeybees, foods like berries and avocados could be in danger.

    Murder hornets, also known as northern giant hornets, are the largest wasps in the world. These insects naturally live in Asia—so how did they land in the U.S.?

    Scientists didn’t know, but they were worried. The hornets could become an invasive species—a plant or animal that spreads in a new environment and harms species already living there.

    Murder hornets rarely kill humans, but they can seriously harm honeybees. In just hours, about 20 murder hornets can kill tens of thousands of bees. These deadly attacks can affect humans too. That’s because honeybees are pollinators. They help food grow by carrying pollen from plant to plant. Without honeybees, foods like berries and avocados could be in danger.

    Beekeepers like McFall teamed up with the scientists. They set up more than 8,000 traps. The goal was to catch a live hornet. Then they would set it free and follow it back to its nest. 

    Chris Looney was one of the scientists on the hunt. For months, he checked the traps, only to find them empty. Then one day, he spotted a nest inside a nearby tree.

    Looney and his team wrapped the tree in plastic. Then they used a special vacuum to suck out more than 500 hornets. “We caught 

    it right in the nick of time,” Looney says.

    By the end of 2021, the scientists had destroyed three more nests in the area. Years passed without a hornet sighting anywhere in the country. In December 2024, experts said that the insects had been removed from the U.S. 

    Scientists still don’t know exactly how the hornets got here. So there is a chance they could return. But for now, we can all celebrate a future filled with honeybees. 

    Beekeepers worked with the scientists. They set up more than 8,000 traps. They hoped to catch a live hornet. Then they would set it free and follow it back to its nest.

    Chris Looney was one of the scientists. He kept checking the traps. They were always empty. Then he saw a nest inside a tree.

    Looney and his team wrapped the tree in plastic. Then they used a special vacuum to suck out more than 500 hornets. “We caught it right in the nick of time,” Looney says.

    By the end of 2021, the scientists had destroyed three more nests in the area. Years passed with no hornet sightings anywhere in the country. In December 2024, experts said the insects had been removed from the U.S.

    Scientists still don’t know how the hornets got here. So there’s a chance they could return. But for now, we can celebrate a future filled with honeybees. 

    Beekeepers like McFall teamed up with the scientists. They set up more than 8,000 traps. The goal was to catch a live hornet, then set it free and follow it back to its nest.

    Chris Looney was one of the scientists on the hunt. For months, he checked the traps, only to find them empty. Then one day, he spotted a nest inside a nearby tree.

    Looney and his team wrapped the tree in plastic and then used a special vacuum to suck out more than 500 hornets. “We caught
it right in the nick of time,” Looney says.

    By the end of 2021, the scientists had destroyed three more nests in the area. Years passed without a hornet sighting anywhere in the country, and in December 2024, experts declared that the insects had been removed from the U.S.

    Scientists still don’t know exactly how the hornets got here, so there’s no way to be certain they won’t return. But for now, we can all celebrate a future filled with honeybees.