60 Nebraskaland • July 2020
MIXED BAG
In December 2019, two reports of Asian giant hornet
(Vespa mandarinia) were confirmed near Blaine, Washington.
These are the first confirmations of this invasive pest in the
United States. Due to these finds, the Washington State
Department of Agriculture will be conducting an extensive
survey for AGH in 2020. Any nests found will be eradicated.
Asian giant hornets, also called murder hornets, are large
insects, approximately 1.5-2 inches long. Their head is large
and yellow to orange. They have black eyes, a dark thorax
and a black abdomen with yellow/orange stripes.
The AGH nests primarily on the ground and can form large
colonies. AGH are predaceous, feeding on honey bees and
other insects. When feeding in groups, AGH can destroy an
entire honey bee hive in a very short time.
There is no evidence of AGH anywhere in the U.S. outside
of Washington. However, there are other large, brightly
colored wasps and hornets that could be confused for AGH.
The cicada killer (Sphecius spp.) and horntails (Tremex
spp.) are two large insects found in Nebraska that could be
mistaken for AGH.
The cicada killers are large, solitary, ground nesting wasps.
They commonly nest in loose
soil around homes and gardens,
and even flower pots, and are a
common sight in the summer.
Cicada killers are 1.2-2 inches
long, with a smaller head than
AGH. Their head and thorax
are yellow to orange, and their
abdominal bands are yellow.
Tremex, or horntails, are also
large, 1-1.5 inches long, with
yellow/orange and black markings.
These are wood borers and can
easily be distinguished from the AGH by their lack of the
typical "wasp waist" between their thorax and abdomen.
If you suspect you have found AGH in Nebraska, take a
picture and report the insect to the Nebraska Department of
Agriculture at
agr.plant@nebraska.gov.
ASIAN GIANT HORNET
By Julie Van Meter, State Entomologist
Nebraska Department of Agriculture
Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia).
XANTHE SHIRLEY, USDA-APHIS-PPQ
Cicada killer
Horntail
JESSICA
LOUQUE,
SMITHERS
VISCIENT,
BUGWOOD.ORG
WHITNEY
CRANSHAW,
COLORADO
STATE
UNIVERSITY,
BUGWOOD.ORG
