Michigan Communities Mobilize Against the Asian Giant Hornet Threat: Early Warning Systems for 2025

While Asian giant hornets have never been spotted in Michigan, pest control experts and state agencies are taking proactive steps to prepare for potential invasions. Entomologists expect that Asian giant hornets would eventually make it to Michigan, though it would probably take a matter of decades. This forward-thinking approach ensures Michigan communities will be ready if these invasive insects arrive sooner than expected.

Understanding the Asian Giant Hornet Threat

Asian giant hornets aren’t just known as “murder hornets” because they can kill people—just a handful of them can wipe out a hive of 30,000 honeybees in a few hours. They will actually decapitate honeybees and then feed their young with those remains, making them a serious threat to Michigan’s already struggling bee populations.

Vespa mandarinia is a wasp native to temperate and subtropical areas of Eastern and South Eastern Asia. In the fall of 2019, a nest was found in British Columbia, Canada, and later, two more reports were confirmed just across the border in Blaine, Washington.

Michigan’s Monitoring and Surveillance Systems

Michigan’s state Department of Agriculture and Michigan State University Extension are aware of this insect, and have a system for monitoring and reporting invasive species in place through the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division.

APHIS and state Departments of Agriculture have a network of sentinel monitoring and reporting systems to catch non-native species before they can become established. The quick identification and eradication of known Vespa mandarinia hornets is a good example of this monitoring system working effectively.

The Misidentification Challenge

One of the biggest challenges facing Michigan’s early warning system is misidentification. Last summer, entomologists had a number of calls with people wanting to report the giant Asian hornet, where it actually turned out to be the cicada killer. Experts are willing to almost guarantee someone’s going to call in and say they’ve got an Asian giant hornet in their yard, when they’re actually seeing cicada killers instead.

The cicada killer wasp is the largest wasp that occurs in Michigan, and despite their large size and fierce appearance, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources says it is nothing to fear. The Eastern cicada killer looks very similar to the Asian giant hornet, leading to frequent false reports.

Professional Pest Control Preparedness

Michigan pest control companies are preparing their teams for potential Asian giant hornet encounters. Companies like First Choice Pest Control, operating through slugthatbug.com, have been serving Michigan communities since 2005 with comprehensive stinging insect management. Their experienced technicians are already well-versed in handling Michigan’s existing hornet species, including European hornets and bald-faced hornets.

Professional Hornet Removal services have become increasingly important as communities recognize the dangers of DIY approaches to aggressive stinging insects. Professional hornet removal services cover everything from small paper wasp nests to massive bald-faced hornet colonies that can house thousands of insects.

Current Risk Assessment for Michigan

For those living in the Midwest, experts say it will likely take decades before the hornets spread to the Great Lakes region. “As far as us in the Great Lakes region, we really don’t have anything to worry about for the foreseeable future”. There’s even a possibility that eradication efforts will be successful before the species becomes established: “Right now is that kind of magical window where eradication is a real possibility, and so it may be that they never get here”.

Technology and Innovation in Detection

Artificial Intelligence is being used to detect invasive Asian hornets and raise alarms. University of Exeter researchers have developed VespAI, an automated system that attracts hornets to a monitoring station and captures standardized images using an overhead camera. This system aims to provide a vigilant, accurate and automated surveillance capability, eliminating the environmental impact of traditional trapping while ensuring that live hornets can be caught and tracked back to the nest.

What Homeowners Can Do

Michigan residents can contribute to early detection efforts by learning to properly identify different stinging insects. If you find a large insect that you need identified, you can mail a specimen or send a high quality photo to MSU Plant & Pest Diagnostics.

For current stinging insect problems, Michigan homeowners should rely on professional services. Most companies respond to hornet removal calls within 24 hours, often same-day for urgent situations. Hornet removal costs depend on factors like nest size, location, and accessibility, with most single nest removals ranging from $150-$400.

Preparing for the Future

While the immediate threat to Michigan remains low, the state’s proactive approach to Asian giant hornet preparedness demonstrates the importance of early warning systems for invasive species. There are many large insects that are native to Michigan that play important roles in ecosystems, and in the aftermath of viral articles about murder hornets, many beneficial insects have been killed by concerned residents.

Michigan’s combination of professional monitoring systems, public education, and experienced pest control services creates a robust defense against potential Asian giant hornet invasions. By maintaining vigilance while avoiding panic, communities can protect both their residents and beneficial native species that are often mistaken for invasive threats.

As 2025 approaches, Michigan’s early warning system continues to evolve, incorporating new technologies and maintaining the expertise needed to respond quickly if Asian giant hornets do eventually reach the Great Lakes region. Until then, residents can rely on established pest control professionals to handle the stinging insect challenges that already exist in the state.