Invasive Yellow-legged Hornet Confirmed in North Carolina

[Debbie Roos]

NCDA&CS confirms first finding of yellow-legged hornet in the state, asks beekeepers to watch for predator hornet

The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has confirmed the first established presence of the invasive yellow-legged hornet (Vespa velutina) in the state, in Matthews.

NCDA&CS has been monitoring for yellow-legged hornet since it was first detected in the United States in Savannah, Georgia, in November 2023. This aggressive pest of honey bees and other pollinators had been previously localized near Savannah, Georgia, and Charleston, South Carolina, until a population was identified last December in York County, South Carolina, just south of the Charlotte metropolitan area,” said Dr. Bill Foote, director of the NCDA&CS Plant Industry Division. “This detection prompted us to ramp up surveillance this year in southern Union and Mecklenburg counties. North Carolina has thousands of beekeepers statewide, and our apiary team has been working diligently to alert them to the threat yellow-legged hornet poses to their hives.” 

Learn more about this new invasive pest and how you can help on Cooperative Extension's Growing Small Farms website.

Debbie

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Debbie Roos
Agricultural Extension Agent
Chatham County Center

North Carolina Cooperative Extension
919.542.8244
debbi...@ncsu.edu

growingsmallfarms.ces.ncsu.edu

www.facebook.com/growingsmallfarms.nc