Sven Spichiger, an entomologist with the Washington state Department of Agriculture, poses for a photo with an Asian giant hornet from Japan mounted on a pin in Olympia, Washington. (Ted S. Warren/AP)

The world’s largest hornet, an invasive breed dubbed the “murder hornet” for its dangerous sting and ability to slaughter a honey bee hive in a matter

Now they’re murdered hornets. The world’s largest hornet dubbed the “murder hornet” has officially been eradicated from the US, according to officials. The northern giant hornet burrowed into Washington

OLYMPIA, Wash. — After three years without confirmed detections, officials declared the northern giant hornet is eradicated from Washington and the United States, the state Department of Agriculture said Wednesday. Scientists said the giant hornets, also known as "murder" hornets, were first detected in the Pacific Northwest in December 2019.

The so-called "murder hornet" has been eradicated from the United States, five years after the invasive species was first discovered in Washington state, officials declared Wednesday. There have been no confirmed detections of the northern giant hornet -- the hornet's official name -- for the past three years,

The USDA hails the effort to expunge the northern giant hornet from Washington state as a "landmark victory in the fight against invasive species."

The northern giant hornet, commonly known as the murder hornet, was first spotted in northern Washington near the Canadian border in 2019. A separate population had been spotted in British Columbia, Canada just a few months earlier.