In photos: How Washington state crews destroyed first murder hornets nest in U.S.

Heavily protected crews on Saturday dismantled the first Asian giant hornet nest found in the U.S., the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) confirmed in a statement declaring: "Got 'em."

The big picture: The invasive species commonly referred to as the "murder hornet," typically doesn't harm humans unless provoked, though it has been known to kill people in Japan. The insect poses a major threat to local honeybee populations. But the WSDA said in a statement that the nest removal "appears to have been successful."

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Got ‘em. Vacuumed out several #AsianGiantHornets from a tree cavity near Blaine this morning. Further details will be provided at a press conference on Monday. Staff not available for interviews before then. pic.twitter.com/31kgAUuJd0

— WA St Dept of Agr (@WSDAgov) October 24, 2020

Sven Spichiger, WSDA managing entomologist, with a canister of Asian giant hornets vacuumed from a nest in a tree behind him in Blaine. Photo: Elaine Thompson/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

A WSDA worker holds two of the hornets, which can deliver painful stings to people and spit venom. Photo: Elaine Thompson/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

Neighbors watch workers vacuum the nest, discovered earlier in the week after crews spent weeks searching, trapping and using dental floss to tie tracking devices to the hornets. Photo: Elaine Thompson/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

Jenni Cena, pest biologist and trapping supervisor from the WSDA, sets a trap designed to catch the murder hornets in Bellingham, Washington, in July. Photo: Karen Ducey/Getty Images

Go deeper: The murder hornets are here