BLAINE, Wash. — Boots are on the ground in the hunt for Asian giant hornets in Whatcom County.
The Department of Agriculture reports a half dozen more specimens have been found in the Blaine area in recent days, including a live hornet that they tried to tag.
Unfortunately, its wings got tangled in the glue and prevented it from flying back to its nest.
Department entomologist Sven Spichiger says the Asian giants are entering what’s called the “slaughter phase” where they destroy whole honey bee colonies and feed on the remains.
He says they also may attack our native wasps and yellow jackets, posing a threat to our ecosystem.
Along with traps set by the department and citizens, they’ve now installed “sentinel” honey bee hives in hopes of attracting and capturing more live hornets they hope will lead them to their nests.