We have seen some very large (inch & 1/2) wasps on occasion around our backyard and garden. They are the size of the so-called murder hornets, but all the news articles seem to indicate these predators are still in BC and Washington state. However, we have an OSU Ag School post-grad who works for us occasionally around our property, and he swears he has seen a few of these, starting last year. Are the murder hornets in Benton County now? If not, what are these large wasp-like insects?