Back in 2020, the “murder hornet” became one of the most talked-about insects in the country. Years later, people still ask us about it — so here’s the honest, current answer.
What Were Murder Hornets, Exactly?
The Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia) — nicknamed the “murder hornet,” and now officially called the northern giant hornet — is the largest hornet species in the world, native to East and South Asia. A female can grow up to an inch and a half long, roughly three times the size of a honeybee. Its mandibles are large enough to decapitate other insects, including honeybees, and in late summer and fall, small groups will team up to stage coordinated attacks on entire hives — a single group of hornets can wipe out a healthy colony in a short time.
Were They Ever Actually in Texas?
No. The only confirmed U.S. sightings were in Washington State, starting in late 2019, with nests found and destroyed there in 2020 and 2021. There was never a confirmed sighting anywhere in Texas.
What Happened to Them?
Here’s the update the internet hasn’t caught up to: in December 2024, the Washington State Department of Agriculture and the USDA officially declared the northern giant hornet eradicated from Washington and the entire United States, after three straight years without a single confirmed detection. Officials are continuing to monitor for any reintroduction, but as of now, this species is not established anywhere in North America — and it never reached Texas at all.
So What Are DFW Residents Actually Seeing?
If you’ve spotted a large, intimidating hornet or wasp in North Texas, it’s almost certainly one of the species we deal with every day here — not a murder hornet. The usual suspects:
- Cicada killer wasps — large, solitary, ground-nesting, and much less aggressive than they look.
- European hornets — established in parts of the U.S. and genuinely large, but not in the murder-hornet class.
- Aggressive yellow jacket or hornet nests — the size and defensive behavior can make any disturbed nest feel like something out of a headline.
If You’ve Found Something You Can’t Identify
We’ve been clearing aggressive stinging insects across DFW for over 45 years, and we’ll tell you honestly what you’re looking at before we do anything else. If you’ve found a nest that worries you — ground, eave, attic, wherever — call us and we’ll help you figure out what it actually is and what, if anything, needs to happen next.
