Northern Giant Hornet

Northern giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia), or NGH, is an invasive species from the tropical and temperate forests of eastern Asia that preys on the western honey bee (Apis mellifera). While this pest is a potential threat to New York’s honey bee industry, it also creates an indirect threat to plants that depend on honey bees for pollination.

NGH was first detected in the United States in Washington State in December of 2019. However, after five years of collaborative efforts by the Washington State Department of Agriculture, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, researchers and the public the Washington State Department of Agriculture and the USDA have declared NGH eradicated in the United States.

NGH is generally not aggressive towards humans unless provoked (protecting a nest or food resources) and only the female hornets are capable of stinging.

Northern giant hornet are the largest species of hornet and range in size from 25mm (approximately one inch) to 45mm (nearly two inches) long.

New York State is home to 416 species of bees and 90 species of wasps, for a total of 506 species that could possibly be mistaken for NGH. Common look-alikes can be viewed here. Only two of these species found in New York are close to the size range of the NGH: the eastern cicada killer and the European hornet.

Eastern Cicada Killer

The eastern cicada killer:

• is found in the east and midwest,
• can be up to two inches long,
• has smaller head proportion to its body than NGH,
• has different abdomen banding patterns than NGH,
• has more of a brown to dark orange color thorax than NGH, and
• has round eyes, unlike hornets.

European Hornet 

The European hornet: 

• doesn’t occur west of the Rocky Mountains,
• is roughly half the size of a northern giant hornet (one to one and a half inches long), and
• has varied markings, typically including distinctive teardrop markings on the back of the abdomen, not uniform bands like the northern giant hornet. 

Beekeepers should remain alert of northern giant hornet as they would likely be the first to notice signs if it were to be introduced in New York due to its predatory nature towards honey bees. If found, the best way to help experts identify a specimen is to take a photo or collect a dead insect in a crush-proof container (only do this if it is safe), then place it in the freezer overnight and complete the public reporting form below.

Please report suspected New York sightings of NGH here.*

You may also contact [email protected] or (518) 457-2087 extension 3 with questions.

*This reporting tool is for New York sightings only. If you are not in New York, please report your sighting to your state apiary inspector, the state department of agriculture, or your local extension service.