TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE MOBILIZES “MURDER HORNET” TASK FORCE AT REQUEST OF GOV. ABBOTT
Texas A&M AgriLife has begun an initiative at the request of Governor Greg Abbott to protect Texans, agriculture, and honey bees should the already-infamous “murder hornet” arrive in the state.
The Asian giant hornet, native to countries like Japan, South Korea, India, and Pakistan, has been spotted several times in Washington state and Canada since late last year. Up to two inches long, the hornets are known to attack beehives and can decimate local honey bee populations. They are also capable of killing humans if they are stung multiple times, and their stingers are capable of puncturing beekeeper suits. Scientists are still unsure of how they made it to the United States.
The hornets have not been spotted in Texas, but because of the risk they bring, the state is mobilizing a task force made up of experts from across the Texas A&M system. The team will provide science-based educational materials on the hornet, assist with mitigation efforts to protect honey bee populations, and prepare statewide identification efforts if necessary.
Greg Pompelli, director of the Center for Cross-Border Threat Screening and Supply Chain Defense, said part of the task force’s response is preparing state entry points for cargo transportation. He said Customs and Border Protection staff will be trained to be able to detect the hornets, while surveillance of incoming containers will be increased. In addition, opportunities for specialized detection, such as using scent-trained dogs to find hornets hidden in cargo or luggage, are being evaluated.
David Ragsdale, Associate Director of AgriLife Research, said while widespread surveillance for the hornets in Texas is premature, strategies are needed to prevent the hornets arriving in the state in cargo. He said the Washington State Department of Agriculture has created a systemic trapping program to locate any overwintering queens or workers this spring. He added, if the department confirms the hornets are overwintering in Washington, it will work to map the infestation and eradicate all colonies before the hornets’ mating season in late summer or early fall.
I lived here in Brenham for 24 years and have seen giants hornets before that look like that! The times that I saw the hornet it was alone flying around. Trust me! When you see something that big you don’t forget it!
Congrats! You are the only person who has ever spotted an Asian giant hornet in Texas.
You did not see a giant hornet What you did see was Sphecius speciosus, often simply referred to as the cicada killer or the cicada hawk, is a large digger wasp species. Cicada killers are large, solitary wasps in the family Crabronidae. The dig holes in the ground and will hunt and kill cicada. Whwn mowing are lawn we will see three or four of the flying around as we mow. They do not attack people.