‘Honey Bee Predatory Invasive Yellow-Legged Hornet, Similar to ‘Murder Hornets,’ Sighted in Georgia’

‘Honey Bee Predatory Invasive Yellow-Legged Hornet, Similar to ‘Murder Hornets,’ Sighted in Georgia’

118 Comments / Blog / By

A yellow-legged hornet (Vespa velutina, formerly called Asian hornet). Gilles San Martin / CC BY-SA 2.0



Why you can trust us

Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions.

An individual of the Vespa velutina species, also known as the yellow-legged hornet, has been found live in the U.S. for the first time. The hornet was found near Savannah, Georgia and is a predator of honey bees and other native pollinators.

The yellow-legged hornet is native to Southeast Asia and is related to invasive murder hornets, or Vespa mandarinia, which were first spotted in the U.S. in late 2019. Both species are dangerous predators of honey bees.

The Georgia Department of Agriculture identified the first live specimen of the yellow-legged hornet and confirmed the finding with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the University of Georgia.

“The yellow-legged hornet poses a threat to honeybees and other pollinators in our state. These pollinators play a significant role in Georgia’s agriculture industry, the state’s main economic driver, and it is imperative that these invasive pests are tracked and eradicated,” the Georgia Department of Agriculture said in a statement. “We are working with USDA APHIS and UGA to trap, track, and eradicate these pests and will continue to assess the situation as new information becomes available and allocate additional resources as need[ed].”

The yellow-legged hornets are smaller than the murder hornets, about half the size or around 0.80 inches long, according to iNaturalist. Each nest can shelter about 6,000 workers on average. The hornets are considered social wasps that will target bee and wasp nests for feeding, NPR reported. They feed on many different insects, including important pollinators in Georgia.

The Georgia Department of Agriculture warned that if the yellow-legged hornet spreads, it could threaten native pollinators and honey production. It would also impact agriculture.

As such, the state agriculture department is requesting for people to report sightings of the yellow-legged hornet in Georgia to an online form. These hornets have distinctive yellow legs, but may look similar to other native wasps that are not predators of honey bees. The department urges people to be cautious near these hornets, which can be aggressive.

Outside of Georgia, anyone who finds what could be a yellow-legged hornet should contact their local agriculture department to report the sightings.

Meanwhile, officials in Georgia will establish traps to look for any additional yellow-legged hornets near where this live specimen was found, CBS News reported. If officials find a colony of these hornets, the colony will be destroyed.

Subscribe to get exclusive updates in our daily newsletter!

By signing up, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy & to receive electronic communications from EcoWatch Media Group, which may include marketing promotions, advertisements and sponsored content.

Based in Los Angeles, Paige is a writer who is passionate about sustainability. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Ohio University and holds a certificate in Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies. She also specialized in sustainable agriculture while pursuing her undergraduate degree.

118 thoughts on “‘Honey Bee Predatory Invasive Yellow-Legged Hornet, Similar to ‘Murder Hornets,’ Sighted in Georgia’”

  114. hitnspin casino bewertung

    Online-Slots bieten eine großartige Gelegenheit, einen Abend zu genießen und sogar etwas Geld zu verdienen. Dank der zahlreichen Boni wird
    dein Guthaben an Gaminator Credits oft wieder aufgefüllt.
    Wir bieten dir nur die besten und beliebtesten Slots von hoch angesehenen Entwicklern wie Novomatic.
    Komm und werde Teil einer der größten Social-Casino-Communities im Internet, mit hochwertigen Slots und Casino-Spielen – und
    das alles völlig kostenlos! Unsere spezielle Seite zu wie man verantwortungsvoll spielt
    hilft Ihnen dabei, Ihr Glücksspiel unter Kontrolle zu halten. Auf jeder Seite finden Sie außerdem
    eine Biografie des Autors, damit Sie seine Referenzen einsehen und darauf vertrauen können, dass die Informationen,
    die Sie lesen, wertvoll und korrekt sind.
    Nach der Registrierung könnt ihr im Spielbereich
    zwischen „Demo“ und „Echtgeld“ wählen. Für Slot Spieler empfehlen wir
    Zahlungsmethoden, die schnelle Ein- und Auszahlungen,
    hohe Sicherheit und unkomplizierte Handhabung bieten. Lest immer die Bonusbedingungen und spielt
    nur mit Geld, das ihr entbehren könnt. Prüft vor der
    Aktivierung, für welche Spiele der Bonus gilt und
    wie oft ihr das Bonusguthaben umsetzen müsst. Reload- oder Cashback-Boni sind
    selten, VIP-Programme und No-Deposit-Angebote kaum noch zu finden.
    Wer könnte einen besseren Wikingerslot entwerfen als der Anbieter Yggdrasil mit seiner Vorliebe für die nordische Mythologie?
    Yggdrasil hat mit Valley of the Gods einen qualitativ hochwertigen Spielautomaten im
    ägyptischen Stil entwickelt. Dieser zeichnet sich durch eine außergewöhnliche Grafik und mehrere typische Bücherslot-Funktionen aus.
    Der an „Twilight“ erinnernde Vampirslot ist ein zeitloser Klassiker.
    In diesem Spielautomaten sind außerdem Tumbling Reels für mehrere Gewinnkombinationen und
    eine Freispielrunde integriert. Mit diesem Slot geht es hinaus aufs offene Meer, wo ein erfahrener Angler auf Sie wartet und
    jeder Spin einen frischen Fang bringen kann.

    References:
    https://online-spielhallen.de/die-bigg-casino-mobile-app-ihr-ultimativer-leitfaden-fur-unterwegs/

    Reply
  115. bitcoin casinos vs traditional casinos

    Lets you block yourself from all licensed online gambling operators in Australia.
    If you ever feel that gambling is starting to affect your life, don’t hesitate to reach out.
    Real money gambling can be exciting, but it also comes with risks.
    At Leon Casino, we believe that gambling should always be fun, light-hearted, and 100%
    optional. A legit casino will never pressure you, delay your payments, or dodge your questions.

    IOS Aussie players can gamble via their devices in the Safari version. Leon Casino has
    an instant play mobile-optimised website.
    We promise you will get an unforgettable gambling experience, whatever you choose!
    Aussies, you can now play for real money and grab your winnings
    in crypto! All the updates are happening in real time (we
    mean promotions or new game releases). We support several methods
    for both depositing and withdrawing money.

    References:
    https://blackcoin.co/victor96-your-ultimate-entertainment-destination-1-gaming-hub-in-australia/

    Reply
  116. online gambling Australia

    Here are the most common ways Aussies fund and cash out at online gambling Australia sites.

    Expect lower % matches than welcome offers, with similar rules on wagering, eligible games, and bet caps.
    Check the multiplier on wagering, whether it’s bonus-only or deposit+bonus, max bet limits, and the timer to clear it.

    Lunubet has gained the trust of players all across the nation and is considered
    the top Australian online casino, despite only being there for under two
    years. Last but not least, we also checked the mobile-friendliness of safe Aussie
    online casinos. Naturally, our research largely focused on the
    safety and security of reputable online casinos in Australia.
    The more of these, the merrier, but trusted online casinos
    should never hit us too hard with terms and conditions.
    Neospin was only formed in 2022, but it’s already become the ultimate safe
    online casino Australia has to offer. MrPacho is the safest
    online casino in Australia if you’re looking to play pokies.

    Every operator has several virtual roulette tables prepared for the fans of this traditional casino
    game. Blackjack can be really fun because you can really make some money if you implement the right strategy (but not card counting as it
    is forbidden). We contact the customer support teams of casinos we present
    on our website, checking to see if they are truly helpful and can give
    answers to common questions.

    Reply

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *