Stop the spread! What to do if you see a Yellow-legged Hornet
A pests exterminator holds an Asian hornet after destroying the nest in Viveiro, northwestern Spain, on August 10, 2022. The Asian hornet, or vespa velutina nigrithorax, is considered a "public enemy" in Spain and other European countries where it de
The Georgia Department of Agriculture is calling on residents to assist in controlling the spread of the invasive Yellow-legged Hornet.
Yellow-legged hornet sightings in Georgia
What we know:
The Department of Agriculture has reason to believe the predatory Asian hornet, also known as the yellow-legged hornet, has been making itself at home in the Peach State since a confirmed sighting in August 2023.
As the weather continues to heat up, the department is asking residents to report any sightings of the hornet or its embryo nests.
Yellow-legged Hornet embryo nest (Credit: Georgia Department of Agriculture)
What you can do:
If you can safely take a photo, you can make a report to the Plant Protection team via email at yellow.legged.hornet@agr.georgia.gov. Learn more.
How dangerous are yellow-legged hornets?
Dig deeper:
These sorts of hornets, which are native to Southeast Asia, pose a significant threat to our honeybees and other local pollinators.
Even though your allergies beg to differ, we need pollen here in Georgia! The agricultural industry is our state's top moneymaker.
Record-breaking pollen levels in metro Atlanta
If you're sneezing, coughing and scratching more than usual, you're not alone. The pollen levels have exploded across metro Atlanta. Researchers find that allergy season is getting more intense and longer.
As of now, Yellow-legged Hornets have only been spotted in the Savannah area.
If you see a nest, you should not try to take it down on your own. The Department of Agriculture strongly recommends reaching out for professional nest removal to make sure the queen is eradicated. Otherwise, the hornets will just rebuild a new nest somewhere else.
The Source: Information about the Yellow-legged Hornet was provided by the Georgia Department of Agriculture.