The first nest of Asian giant hornets found in Washington state has been sucked out of a tree using a vacuum hose.

The state’s agricultural department said it had spent weeks searching for and trapping the hornets, which attack honeybee hives and could pose a threat to humans because they can sting repeatedly with venom that is stronger than a honeybee’s.

“Got ’em. Vacuumed out several #AsianGiantHornets from a tree cavity near Blaine this morning,” the agriculture department said on Twitter.

A team of entomologists in full-body protective gear vacuumed Asian giant hornets out of a tree in Washington state on Saturday.