Beehive Buzz: Yellow-Legged Hornet

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Identifying the Yellow Legged Hornet. Image: University of Georgia Cooperative Extension.


8.5_fig_1_LDAF_logo.jpg thumbnailLogo of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry

In late August of 2023, the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension published this report about a new pest of beehives, “The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) have confirmed the discovery of a yellow-legged hornet [YLH] in Georgia for the first time. This is the first detection of live yellow-legged hornets in the open United States.”

AHA shared news about this pest with Dr. James Villegas, State Extension Entomologist, and he shared some important information about this new threat to beekeeping, “Thank you for sending this news article. The northern giant hornet (commonly called murder hornet or Asian giant hornet), Vespa mandarinia, is a different species from the yellow-legged hornet, Vespa velutina. Both species are predators, especially honey bees and other pollinators. The northern giant hornet was first detected in British Columbia and Washington in 2019, if I am not mistaken. There is no indication that the giant hornet has spread to other states. I think the population has been mostly eradicated in Washington. You are right, a lot of people mistake it for a cicada killer because they are similar in size. I received a call a couple of weeks ago from a homeowner saying that they saw a giant hornet. It turned out to be a cicada killer.

The detection of the yellow-legged hornet in Georgia is ‘hot off the press.’ This hornet is probably half the size of the northern giant hornet. UGA, USDA, and the Georgia Department of Agriculture have officially confirmed the detection of yellow-legged hornet in Georgia. They are working on ways to track, trap, and eradicate this invasive pest. I am not sure yet what would be the implication of this on neighboring states.“

If you suspect you have a YLH or even another strange pest, here are some steps to report to the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF):

  • Your name and contact information.
  • The location of the sighting/attack.
  • The date of the sighting/attack.
  • If you can, safely take photograph(s) of the hornet (we generally can only confirm a report with a photo or specimen).
  • The location and approximate altitude of the nest if found (Is it in a tree? Approximately how high is the nest?).
  • If you have no photo, please include a description of the size of the insect, the color of the head and body, and what it was doing.
  • Description of the hive loss/damage (if no photo is available).
  • The direction the hornet(s) flew when flying away.

Then mail your report to:

LDAF, Plant Pest Quarantine Programs
5825 Florida Blvd.
Baton Rouge, LA 70806

or call toll-free: 1.866.927.2476

or email: AgEnviro@ldaf.state.la.us

If you want to contact Beehive Buzz, please send your questions and pictures to Keith Hawkins, Area Horticulture Agent (AHA), 337-463-7006 or khawkins@agcenter.lsu.edu. Also, you can be on the “beemail” email list by emailing your request to the address above.

“This work has been supported, in part, by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Renewable Resources Extension Act Award, Accession Number 1011417.”

9/12/2023 1:18:47 PM
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