Don't squish me! Local insects, Asian giant hornets, and the case of mistaken identities

Quin Baine and Chris Looney

WSDA Entomology Lab

With the worldwide attention that Vespa mandarinia (Asian giant hornets) have received over the last few weeks, our entomology lab has been busy reviewing hundreds of reports of suspected Asian giant hornets. Despite the deluge of reports, only two so far have been confirmed as an Asian giant hornet. 

Unfortunately, while their intentions are good, many people have killed and submitted many insects that are NOT Asian giant hornets. Not only are most of these insects not harmful, they play an important role in the environment. We want to compare some of these insects with Asian giant hornet so you can become better a citizen scientist and let insects that are not Asian giant hornets buzz along their way.

Not sure where a thorax is on an insect? How about an abdomen? See the Asian giant hornet diagram at the end of this blog. It will help you identify different body parts of the insects discussed below. 

Bumble bees   

Bumble bees are covered with dense hair Photo credit: Mary Asche

Asian giant hornets have very few hairs Photo credit: I, KENPEI / CC BY-SA (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)

These native pollinators can be colored black, yellow, and orange, and are most easily distinguished from the Asian giant hornet by their round, stout bodies and very fuzzy appearance. A queen bumble bee can be large, almost an inch in length, and they make a noticeably loud buzzing when they fly. However, there is little reason for alarm! Bumble bees are non-aggressive regardless of size. Bumble bees are important pollinators in Washington’s farms and wild ecosystems. You can often see the bumble bee’s collected pollen carried in yellow and orange lumps on its back legs.

Sawflies

Cimbex sawfly antennae are distinctly clubbed Photo credit: Stu Adams

Giant hornet antennae remain narrow through the entire length Alpsdake / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)

Sawflies can have a very bee-like or wasp-like appearance, but there’s good news – they are all are non-venomous and can’t sting! The Cimbex sawflies are some of the largest sawflies in the state and can be up to 1.25 inches in length. The elm sawfly (Cimbex americana) and the Pacific sawfly (Cimbex pacifica) can be black and yellow, or black, yellow, and reddish-orange, with darkened wings. Their stripes can seem very similar to Asian giant hornets. The easy way to tell these sawflies from wasps is their clubbed bright orange or yellow antennae. Clubbed means they are expanded at the ends, kind of like a Q-tip. Sawflies are plant-eaters – the young feed on leaves, while the adults can sometimes be found chewing on wood or feeding on the sap of trees.

Yellowjackets and paper wasps

Our native yellowjackets and paper wasps are smaller and distinctly patterned with white or yellow markings, not orange! Photo credit: Megan Asche

Asian giant hornets have orange markings

Most of Washington’s yellowjackets are native species that are common during much of the year. Unlike Asian giant hornet, Washington’s Vespula and Dolichovespula are clearly yellow (or white) and black, but not orange. They have distinctive patterning across the head and thorax, while Asian giant hornet is completely orange on the head (except for its black eyes) and almost completely black on the thorax. Yellowjackets can sting, especially when swatted or stepped on. However, these insects are beneficial to the ecosystem as pest control– they feed on many common agricultural plant pests.

Cicada Killer Wasp

Western cicada killer species lack extensive black markings, and have a rusty orange thorax. Photo credit: Jason R Eckberg via Bugguide - Attribution-NoDerivs-NonCommercial 1.0 Generic (CC BY-ND-NC 1.0)

Asian giant hornets have obvious black markings and a black thorax.

This common, native wasp can be very large, sometimes reaching over an inch and a half in length. The western cicada killer (Sphecius grandis) and the Pacific cicada killer (Sphecius convallis) are both mostly rusty-orange in color with yellow and black markings on the face and abdomen. They are more orange, more slender, and have longer antennae than Asian giant hornets. Though “killer” is in the name, this wasp feeds on other insects, like the cicada, and is typically non-aggressive towards humans. Predatory insects, like the cicada killer, help maintain a balanced ecosystem.

Great Golden Digger Wasp

Golden digger wasps have an apparent thin waist. The abdomen is not striped but is distinctly orange in the front and black towards the end.  Photo credit: Megan Asche

The abdomen of the Asian giant hornet has alternating black and orange striping.

The digger wasps can also be large, with the largest in Washington about 1.25 inches long. A solitary wasp that feeds on insects, they are generally non-aggressive and it is very uncommon for them to sting humans. Sphex ichneumoneus can be most easily recognized by the long constriction at the base of the abdomen, forming a thin, thread-like “waist”. At rest, the long antennae are slightly curled. Instead of striped, like Asian giant hornets, the abdomen of the great golden digger wasp is bi-colored, with orange on the first part and black towards the end. Other Sphex species are often completely black. These wasps are another example of predatory insects that play an important role in our natural and agricultural ecosystems as pest control.

Learning more

The above images are of insects alive and in nature. A similar comparison of preserved specimens can be found on the USDA APHIS Asian giant hornet webpage. 

Getting to know the insects around you can be fascinating. If you’d like to learn more about local insects, some great resources include the Washington State Master Gardener program, iNaturalist, and Bugguide.com. And of course, if you do suspect you have seen an Asian giant hornet, get a photo if you can safely do so, collect the specimen if it is dead, and report it at agr.wa.gov/hornets.

Asian giant hornet diagram

Food assistance for pets

Chris McGann
Communications

Pets provide companionship and stress relief. It's important for
their owners to have access to pet food during the COVID-19
crisis. 

Times are tough enough when people don’t have enough to eat. But the hardship can cut even deeper when struggling households also have pets to feed.

As the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to increase the ranks of people in need of food assistance, the animals so many rely on for companionship, affection, and stress reduction need support too.

WSDA is working with a collaboration of animal services in King County and a national animal-welfare organization to support a statewide pet food distribution hub and help make sure people have access to pet food. It’s an initiative that not only supports animal health, but also the hunger relief efforts aimed at humans.

Increasing need

With the layoffs and business closures caused by the coronavirus shutdown, hunger relief organizations predict the number of people seeking food assistance in Washington State will soon exceed 2 million.

That means the corresponding population of pets at risk could exceed 1 million. This is based on our region’s estimated 59 percent pets-to-people ratio for those visiting food pantries and other hunger relief services.

Preventing a cascade of other problems

Pet owners unable to meet their own nutritional needs often face a wrenching dilemma, pitting support of their own health against caring for their pets. In some situations, they opt to use emergency food from hunger relief efforts to feed their animals.

WSDA veterinarian Dr. Minden Buswell has helped organize requests for and distribution of the pet food through her work with the state emergency management operations. She warned that the situation leads to concerning outcomes from both people and pets and adds additional strain on food banks already facing an uphill battle to procure enough food to meet the demand.

“My concern is that if we do not continue to fill this void or the void gets larger, people will utilize that human food for pet food,” Buswell said. “That is an issue because people, especially our vulnerable populations, need that food to stay healthy. Human food is not healthy for pets and using it to feed pets is unnecessary if we can help meet their need appropriately. There is no pet food supply-chain issue at this time.”

In some cases, surrendering the pet to a shelter becomes the only option, a choice both traumatic for the owner and costly for the system.

Providing pet food support alleviates higher costs for local government and privately run animal shelters face caring for surrendered pets.

Shelters already had to implement major operational changes because of the COVID-19 pandemic. They now operate with decreased staffing and donations, and without volunteer programs. In some cases, the shelters also serve as the designated quarantine place for animals of COVID patients.

Source of support

The effort to provide pet food for cash-strapped people during this crisis results from a collaboration of King County Regional Animal Services (RASKC), Seattle Humane Society, and several other King County and local organizations.

Greatergood.org, a national nonprofit organization for people and animals, provided the majority of the pet food. Additional support comes from a Petsmart Charities grant received by King County Regional Animal Services.

The Mobile Pet Food Bank team during COVID-19 operations.  

Buswell is working with Seattle Humane Society, RASKC, the Seattle Animal Shelter, Auburn Valley Humane Society, and Pasado’s Safe Haven to help coordinate the effort.

King County leased a warehouse to store pallets of pet food and supplies, which will be distributed across the state. The team created an interactive map to help pet owners find distribution sites around the region.

Animal shelters and rescues outside King County in need of assistance are encouraged to e-mail the Seattle Humane.

Buswell said the pet food issue is something she has and will “continue to keep a pulse on to ensure that all the hard work that has gone into supplying humans with human food is not derailed into pet food and to ensure we are taking care of the whole family in Washington.”

For help finding a pet food bank in your area, visit RASKC's pet assistance program.

Equine Herpes Virus (EHV) detected in King County

Dr. Brian Joseph
Washington State Veterinarian

A King County horse tested positive for Equine Herpes Virus (EHV) last week after showing mild signs of the disease. Results of tests on three other horses at the 30-horse facility where it was stabled are pending.

Equine Herpes Virus (EHV) is a potentially fatal animal disease in the United States.

It not only has the potential to affect horse health but, because it's highly contagious and requires lengthy quarantines or cancellations of events like rodeos and fairs, the economic consequences can be equally devastating.

The infected horse in King County is receiving treatment and the facility is now under a minimum 14-day quarantine to be lifted only after WSDA confirms that there are no more signs of the disease.

The horse will remain in quarantine until two negative PCR tests, which look for traces of the viral genetic code, can be verified. The facility has cooperated fully with the quarantine order and is working to ensure strict biosecurity measures are in place.

The case should serve as a reminder to apply appropriate biosecurity measures, update vaccinations, and be vigilant for signs of the disease.

What to watch for

Given the infectious nature of EHV, WSDA asks horse owners to follow these recommendations.

Watch your horse for signs of possible infection including:

• Fever of 101.5 F or higher.
• Discharge from the eyes or nose.
• Respiratory symptoms.
• Swelling of the limbs.
• Spontaneous abortions.
• Neurological signs such as an unsteady gait, weakness, urine dripping, lack of tail tone and recumbency.

Check your horse’s temperature twice daily, ideally first thing in the morning and last thing at night. Also, check before administering medications since some can lower body temperature.

Notify your veterinarian immediately if you detect any of the symptoms above. Your veterinarian may want to take nasal swabs for virus detection or blood samples for evidence of exposure to EHV-1.

When the virus is detected, WSDA and local veterinarians work closely with affected communities to ensure the best biosecurity standards are practiced. For more tips on keeping your own horses safe through good biosecurity practices, please see our previous blog post.

The time between exposure and illness from EHV varies from two to 10 days. By self-quarantining animals with possible symptoms, practicing good biosecurity and contacting your veterinarian as soon as you suspect possible symptoms, you can help prevent the spread of this virus.

For more information, contact WSDA's Animal Health Program.

WSDA planning meetings connected farmers and school buyers

Chris Iberle, WSDA Farm to School 

Seattle Public Schools nutrition staff meet with farmers and distributors
about supplying fresh fruits and vegetables to the district’s snack program.

Farmers and school nutrition staff have a lot in common. They have some of the busiest jobs, and do a lot of different things depending on the season. They also care about feeding kids nutritious foods, teaching students about agriculture and where food comes from, and supporting local farms in their communities.  

Back in January and February -- before the current pandemic imposed physical distancing restrictions -- WSDA Farm to School organized four meetings where farmers and school buyers could network and plan sales. These meetings in different parts of the state aimed to help farmers and nutrition staff collaborate on using more Washington-grown products in schools’ scratch-cooked meals.

Thirty-four farmers, food hubs, processors, or other local food suppliers met with 16 school districts. They built relationships, learned about school buyer needs, and relayed what products are available from Washington producers. Each school district shared information about products they’d be interested in purchasing, how much and how often, for farmers to use in market and production planning. 

All the meetings had great energy and enthusiasm as attendees worked together to support Washington agriculture and provide nutritious meals to students.

Supportive farm to school approach

This was the first time WSDA hosted farm to school meetings focused on networking and planning to increase schools’ purchases of Washington-grown foods. We worked with city, county, and nonprofit partners to co-host and provide outreach to farmers and schools interested in farm to school. 

Each meeting looked a bit different depending on the local needs and priorities.

• Seattle Public Schools met with four farms and two food hubs about supplying the district with fresh fruits and vegetables for a snack program. The program was developed with the support of City of Seattle and FEEST. It prioritized bringing in new vendors, particularly small businesses owned by women or people of color.
• In Walla Walla, the Sustainable Living Center’s Walla Walla Valley Farm to School Program helped farmers and school districts prepare for the meeting by assessing their needs and requirements for effective partnerships. Attendees also discussed the logistics of getting more food grown in Walla Walla Valley into school kitchens.
• Bethel School District hosted farmers and nutrition staff from nine districts in Puyallup. Producers attended with a wide array of Washington products to offer, including tree fruit, berries, vegetables, seafood, eggs, beef, pork, chicken, yogurt, flour and grains.
• In Grandview, four school districts met with tree fruit, vegetable, and pork farmers, and discussed topics ranging from food safety standards to planning purchases around the growing season.

School district nutrition staff from around Central Washington meet in
Grandview with farmers, distributors and processors.

From relationships and discussions coming out of the meetings, multiple school districts and producers reported new purchases and sources for Washington-grown products for their school meals.

Value of relationships

Furthermore, the momentum from the meetings has extended into the current COVID-19 response. WSDA helped organize a call on April 2 connecting an agency and non-profit team with farms, suppliers, distributors, and other industry partners. The call included many of the attendees from our February meetings.  

Our goal was to respond to immediate K-12 school and childcare food needs and fill shortages for certain items used in their new and evolving meal distribution models, such as grab-and-go, sack lunches, and weekly food boxes. 

To survey and respond to food-supply need, WSDA is working with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Child Nutrition, United Way King County, Department of Children, Youth and Families, and Childcare Aware.

For resources and tools to support ongoing farm to school efforts with your districts and farms, visit WSDA’s Farm to School Toolkit. Or contact me - Chris Iberle, WSDA Regional Markets’ Farm to School Lead, at ciberle@agr.wa.gov. I’d be happy to support starting, expanding, or growing farm to school in your community, and to find out about future activities.

Trapping for Asian giant hornets - 8 things to know

Karla Salp
Communications

Please note - if you are not in Washington State, please DO NOT trap for Asian giant hornets. You have virtually no chance of catching an Asian giant hornet but can kill local insects. If you live outside of Washington and believe you have seen Asian giant hornets, please report to your state's invasive species managers, not to WSDA. 

Since the first report of Asian giant hornets in Washington last December, the Washington State Department of Agriculture’s (WSDA) Pest Program has been doing extensive research and planning to find and, if possible, eradicate Asian giant hornets from Washington this summer.

The first step to eradicating this invasive pest - which threatens honeybees and all the crops they pollinate - is to locate the existing Asian giant hornet colonies. To do that, WSDA is enlisting the help of beekeepers and the public to trap and report Asian giant hornets in Washington. But helping out has risks and takes time, so read our list below before you decide to trap.

Here are the top eight things to know about trapping for Asian giant hornets:

1. You can help trap for Asian giant hornets. WSDA is especially looking for people in Whatcom, Skagit, Island, San Juan, Jefferson, and Clallam counties to trap for Asian giant hornets.
2. Trapping is a commitment. If you participate in trapping, it will require that you check traps and change the bait once per week for 17 weeks (if you start in July) or up to 34 weeks (if you start in April). You’ll also need to purchase the materials for the trap and bait, as well as mail any specimens you collect to WSDA.
3. The best time to trap is from July through October. The most likely time to catch Asian giant hornets is from July through October - when colonies are established and workers are out foraging. Traps can be hung as early as April if attempting to trap queens, but since there are significantly fewer queens than workers, catching a queen isn’t very likely.
4. You could get stung. Trapping for Asian giant hornets could increase your chances of being stung by one. While Asian giant hornets don’t typically bother people, they will sting if they feel threatened. Don’t trap for Asian giant hornets if you are allergic to bee or wasp stings. The venom of the Asian giant hornet is more toxic than that of local bees and wasps.
5. Hornet traps from the store won’t work. Hornet traps currently on the market in the United States won’t work for Asian giant hornets because their holes are too small. WSDA has researched numerous trapping options and has provided instructions on how to make and monitor homemade traps that will be effective for Asian giant hornets.
6. Reporting your trap location and catches is very important. Knowing where hornet traps are located and promptly reporting any Asian giant hornet catches will be critical to WSDA’s ability to find and remove Asian giant hornet nests. Failing to do so could thwart WSDA’s attempts to locate Asian giant hornets in Washington.
7. Do not approach or attempt to remove an Asian giant hornet nest. When trapping, you could come across an Asian giant hornet nest. They typically nest in the ground. Take care when placing traps and if you locate one, do not approach it. Contact WSDA immediately at 1-800-443-6684. WSDA has obtained special equipment for the removal of Asian giant hornet nests.
8. Beekeepers are helping WSDA evaluate experimental spring “sap traps.” Volunteers from the Mt. Baker Beekeeper Association are working with WSDA to test an experimental “sap trap” which uses tree sap as the bait to attract Asian giant hornets. This experimental trap is for use in the spring when queens emerge.

Trapping for Asian giant hornets is just the first step in locating and eradicating nests. WSDA is still finalizing plans for tracking live, trapped hornets back to their nests. To learn more about Asian giant hornets and WSDA’s program to eradicate them, visit agr.wa.gov/hornets.

Update: this blog was updated on April 27, 2020 to add Jefferson County to the list of targeted counties. 

Update: this blog was updated on May 8, 2020 to add information for people outside of Washington State.