There have been five previous confirmed sightings of Asian giant hornets in the state.

This is more than 15 miles from the next closest confirmed sighting in Custer, WA, and the first time one has been spotted in Bellingham.

Although they’ve been harshly labelled 'murder hornets' in popular coverage, giant hornets are not particularly aggressive toward humans, says Spencer Monckton of York University.

The Asian giant hornet stings through clothing like a red-hot needle and slaughters honeybees by the thousands.

The hornets were detected on Vancouver Island earlier this year, prompting officials to issue an alert and mobilize to destroy their colony.

Asian giant hornets may have been vanquished in B.C. just over a week after they were found in the province for the very first time.

Three large insects found in the Nanaimo area in August have been confirmed to be Asian giant hornets, which can be deadly to honeybee populations.