The invasive Northern giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia, NGH) is a social wasp species native to Asia that was first reported in the Vancouver Island area of Canada and northwestern Washington state in 2019. In December 2024, the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) declared the eradication of the northern giant hornet from the United States.
These hornets have large bodies that measure 1.5 to 2 inches. In Southern Rhode Island, many native wasps and hornets resemble the northern giant hornet, most commonly the Eastern cicada killer (Sphecius speciosus) and the European hornet (Vespa crabro). For more information, check out the guide to the “big three” look-alikes.
To learn more about the Northern giant hornet, see the USDA fact sheet or watch this video from Utah State University Extension. If you suspect you have found a Northern giant hornet, please report the find to the RIDEM Invasive Species Reporting Page.
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