A type of hornet that preys on honey bees, threatening area honey production, native pollinators and agriculture, has been found living for the first time in the United States.And it was found in Savannah. The Georgia Department of Agriculture confirmed Tuesday that a yellow-legged hornet — also known as the Asian hornet — was detected in the Hostess City by a beekeeper.It is a cousin to the giant Asian hornet, commonly referred to as “murder hornets.”According to the GDA, the Savannah beekeeper found an unusual hornet on his property and reported it.On Aug. 9, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service confirmed the University of Georgia’s identification of the insect as a yellow-legged hornet.”Georgians play an important role helping GDA identify unwanted, non-native pests, and I want to thank the beekeeper who reported his sighting to us, as well as our partners at the University of Georgia and USDA’s Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service for working swiftly to confirm its identity,” said Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper. “Our experienced team of professionals will continue to assess the situation and are working directly with USDA APHIS and UGA to trap, track, and eradicate the yellow-legged Hornet in Georgia. “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. The GDA says this could have a big impact on the state’s agriculture if it’s not eradicated. “They are an invasive species that seem to specialize in feeding on honeybees, which is a concern to that industry,” Forschler said. The GDA is developing a plan to trap, track and eradicate the yellow-legged hornet in Georgia. Yellow-legged hornets can be dangerous, and officials encourage everyone to use caution in the event of a sighting.The GDA has a form to report potential sightings. Residents with additional questions can email yellow.legged.hornet@agr.georgia.gov.
A type of hornet that preys on honey bees, threatening area honey production, native pollinators and agriculture, has been found living for the first time in the United States.
And it was found in Savannah.
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The Georgia Department of Agriculture confirmed Tuesday that a yellow-legged hornet — also known as the Asian hornet — was detected in the Hostess City by a beekeeper.
It is a cousin to the giant Asian hornet, commonly referred to as “murder hornets.”
According to the GDA, the Savannah beekeeper found an unusual hornet on his property and reported it.
On Aug. 9, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service confirmed the University of Georgia’s identification of the insect as a yellow-legged hornet.
“Georgians play an important role helping GDA identify unwanted, non-native pests, and I want to thank the beekeeper who reported his sighting to us, as well as our partners at the University of Georgia and USDA’s Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service for working swiftly to confirm its identity,” said Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper. “Our experienced team of professionals will continue to assess the situation and are working directly with USDA APHIS and UGA to trap, track, and eradicate the yellow-legged Hornet in Georgia. “
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.
The GDA says this could have a big impact on the state’s agriculture if it’s not eradicated.
“They are an invasive species that seem to specialize in feeding on honeybees, which is a concern to that industry,” Forschler said.
The GDA is developing a plan to trap, track and eradicate the yellow-legged hornet in Georgia.
Yellow-legged hornets can be dangerous, and officials encourage everyone to use caution in the event of a sighting.
The GDA has a form to report potential sightings. Residents with additional questions can email yellow.legged.hornet@agr.georgia.gov.
