An invasive hornet is found alive in the U.S. for the first time in Georgia. The Georgia Department of Agriculture says the living Yellow-Legged Hornet a non-native hornet species, that, if allowed to establish in Georgia, could potentially threaten honey production, native pollinators, and the state’s number one industry – agriculture. Earlier this month, a beekeeper in Savannah, GA, found an unusual hornet on his property and reported it to the GDA.
On August 9, 2023, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the University of Georgia’s (UGA) identification of this insect as a yellow-legged hornet.
The yellow-legged hornet is a social wasp species that constructs egg-shaped paper nests above ground, often in trees. These nests can become large, housing an average of 6,000 workers.
The yellow-legged hornet is native to tropical and subtropical areas of Southeast Asia. It is also established in most of Europe, parts of the Middle East, and parts of Asia where it isn’t native.
Anyone who spots a suspected yellow-legged hornet is asked to report it to the Georgia Department of Agriculture. They’ve created a special portal on their website.
Sabrina Halvorson
National Correspondent / AgNet Media, Inc.
Sabrina Halvorson is an award-winning journalist, broadcaster, and public speaker who specializes in agriculture. She primarily reports on legislative issues and hosts The AgNet Weekly podcast. Sabrina is a native of California’s agriculture-rich Central Valley.