The United States, especially the state of Washington, continues to strive to eradicate the Asian giant wasp or what is often dubbed the killer wasp. Authorities in Washington said they had just destroyed the wasp's nest, which consisted of thousands of individuals.
The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) said it had found the wasp's nest in a dead tree in Whatcom County. As many as 1,500 wasps in various stages of growth are present in it.
The wasp with the scientific name Vespa mandarinia was first seen in Washington last year, but it is not known how it got there. The arrival of this alien species caused great fear among scientists and citizens of Uncle Sam's country.
Scientists are worried because the wasp is one of the prey for swarms of bees, not to mention the sting is very painful. In fact, farmers depend on honey bees to pollinate crops such as apples, cherries and blueberries. This invasive species can permanently change ecological conditions for the worse.
"While we are delighted to find and eradicate this hive, detection of this kind proves that it is important for the public to report it," said Sven Spichiger of the WSDA.
"We expect there are many more nests of this killer wasp out there and we hope to find them before there are queens. Your report may be a clue for us to find the nest," he added.
The Asian giant wasp is the largest wasp species in the world and the queen can grow to a size of 5 cm. Although dubbed the killer wasp, this species is known to only kill a dozen people a year in the Asian country.
Killer wasps can decapitate bees and other insects using their jaws that look like spiny shark fins. This wasp can even destroy the nest of its prey in a matter of hours.
These insects are usually found in China, Japan, Thailand, South Korea, Vietnam and other Asian countries. The US state of Washington and the Canadian province of British Columbia are the only places in North America where this killer wasp species has ever been found.