OLYMPIA, WA (KGMI.com) – As northern giant hornets went unseen for a second year in a row, the state Dept of Agriculture is reporting a variety of trends with other invasive species.
Spotted lanternflies weren’t spotted at all in 2023, according to the Dept’s annual invasive pest survey.
The report also says fewer Japanese beetles were reported, but added that they’ve been detected in areas farther away from their “hot spots” in Yakima County.
Meanwhile, state Agriculture crews reported a huge surge in spongy moth sightings.
Over 100 moths were caught in several counties, with 81 in Thurston County alone.
In comparison, only 30 were trapped in all of Washington state last year.
Sightings of the spongy moth were also reported in San Juan and Skagit Counties.