What to Know About the Yellow Legged Hornet Detected in Georgia.

EVENT ALERT: Catch the Vespa velutina webinar on September 14th at 2:00pm EST. Topics include the Vespa velutina invasion in Spain and Italy, as well as local (U.S.) updates. Register to attend live, HERE. This event will also be recorded and shared at a later date.  Detailed agenda below. ​

Download this flier HERE.  In this webinar you will hear from Apiary Inspectors of America (AIA) representatives with monitoring updates, and scientists working with beekeepers and Vespa in Europe. The webinar will be two hours including time for Q & A at the end.
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Webinar Agenda:
2:00 pm to 2:15 pm :Hello and Welcome- Grace Kunkel, Project Apis m. and Overview/Introductions- Brooke Decker, Vice President of AIA
2:15 pm to 2:45 pm: -Research update from COLOSS Dr. Rojas Nossa & Dr. Cini
2:45 pm to 3:05 pm: - Updates from AIA Brad Cavin & David Williams
3:05 pm to 3:15 pm: - Native and non-native Hymenoptera survey Karen Roccasecca
3:15 pm to 3:25 pm - Discussion on Veto-Pharma Vespa traps Amber Leach
3:25 pm to 4:00 pm - Questions and Discussion

Last month, a beekeeper reported an unusual hornet found on his property to the Georgia State Department of Agriculture (GDA). In a news conference and press release on August 15th, 2023, the GDA confirmed the specimen was the first known detection of a live yellow-legged hornet in the U.S. The yellow legged hornet, Vespa velutina, is a pest of major concern due to potential impacts to the beekeeping industry and the crops that rely on honey bee pollination. 

Similarly to the Northern Giant Hornet that was found in Washington State in 2019, the yellow legged hornet is native to Asia and is a voracious predator of honey bees. Previous to being found in the U.S. the yellow legged hornet has spread to parts of Europe, where beekeepers have reported weakened colonies and some colony losses. 

Georgia, already having a tough agricultural year due to widespread damage to the peach crop this past winter, depends on honey bees to provide critical pollination services to crops that drive it's agricultural economy. 

​The GDA is asking for beekeeper and citizen assistance with reporting any suspected yellow legged hornet sitings to this website:

https://agr.georgia.gov/yellow-legged-hornet

To aide in monitoring and eradication efforts, citizens are encouraged to report sightings. If possible, it is helpful for people to take photos from a safe distance to aide in the identification efforts. It is not advised to approach these insects because they sting and can be dangerous. 

Read the press release from the GDA HERE.

Watch the press conference HERE. 

This blog will be updated as more information becomes available.

​ Individuals with questions are encouraged to email officials at this address: yellow.legged.hornet@agr.georgia.gov.