The large insects could prove dangerous to more than just humans.

According to researchers with Washington State University’s Department of Entomology, the Asian giant hornet has been confirmed to have entered the United States. It is not currently known how the insect species made its way to American soil, but they were first reported by the Washington State Department of Agriculture back in December. They have also been spotted in British Colombia.

The Asian giant hornet, scientifically known as vespa mandarinia and colloquially referred to as the “murder hornet,” is a dangerous species that typically kills around 50 people in Japan every year. The insect measures around 1.5 to 2 inches long, possess a yellow-orange-colored head with large eyes, and a black-and-yellow striped abdomen. The sting of the Asian giant hornet is extremely painful, containing dangerous neurotoxins. A single sting has been known to cause flu-like symptoms, specifically muscular aches, and multiple stings have the potential to kill a human being, even if they are not allergic to hornet stings.

Despite the danger of their stings, the Asian giant hornet usually won’t go after a human unless agitated. However, even if the danger to humans is lessened, the hornets still present a potentially catastrophic problem; Asian giant hornets are a known predator of common honey bees. In the late summer to early fall, when the hornets reach maturity, they have been known to completely decimate a honey bee hive in just a few hours. Bee populations are already on the decline in the US, and further loss caused by hornet attacks could have adverse affects on multiple agricultural industries.

Washington state officials have begun setting traps for the hornets and tracking their known locations.