Savannah beekeeper's discovery marks first detection of invasive Asian hornet in Georgia

Caitlyn Stroh-Page, Savannah Morning News
Updated ·2 min read
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A photo of a yellow-legged hornet, which is native to Southeast Asia.
A photo of a yellow-legged hornet, which is native to Southeast Asia.

A beekeeper in Savannah discovered and reported an "unusual hornet" earlier in August.

The Georgia Department of Agriculture, in partnership with the University of Georgia and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, identified the insect as an invasive yellow-legged hornet (vespa velutina), marking the first time it has been discovered in Georgia. According to the GDA, this is also the first detection of the species in "the open United States."

The invasive hornet could threaten honey production and native pollinators if it establishes a population, the GDA warns.

The hornet is native to Southeast Asia, though it has established in Europe and parts of the Middle East, according to the GDA.

A photo of a yellow-legged hornet, which is native to Southeast Asia.
A photo of a yellow-legged hornet, which is native to Southeast Asia.

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What to do if you see a yellow-legged hornet

The GDA has a form to complete if you believe you have spotted a yellow-legged hornet. You can also email yellow.legged.hornet@agr.georgia.gov.

The GDA asks that you include the following information with any submission:

  • Name and contact information

  • Location and date of the sighting.

  • If possible, a photograph of the hornet. If not, a description of the size of the insect, the color of the head and body, and what it was doing

  • Location and approximate height of the nest (if found)

  • The direction the hornet(s) flew when flying away.

"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," Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper said in a statement.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Yellow-legged hornet (vespa velutina) found in Georgia