Washington Administrative Code
Title 16 - Agriculture, Department of (See also Titles 24, 60, and 142)
QUARANTINE ORDERS AND PLANT MOVEMENT
Chapter 16-470 - Quarantine-Agricultural pests
Section 16-470-070 - Quarantine-Hornet

A quarantine is established under this chapter against any live life stages of all species in the genus Vespa (hornet) including, but not limited to, Vespa mandarinia. The quarantine does not include species that are not classified within the genus Vespa (such as wasps in the genus Vespula). Hornets feed on fruit and damage plants, as well as attack managed bee and other native insect populations. No species of hornet are native to Washington state. The director of agriculture has determined that the regulation and exclusion of all species of hornet is necessary to protect the environmental quality, forests, floriculture and agricultural crops of the state of Washington.