This article was featured in the 2026 Spring Newsletter by Thom Allgaier, NYS Department of Agriculture & Markets.
Yellow legged hornet (Vespa velutina) was detected in Georgia near the port of Savannah in August of 2023. In November of that same year, it was also detected a short distance away in South Carolina. Yellow legged hornet is primarily a pest of honeybees; however, it will feed on many insects. Its native range stretches from northern India southward through China, Taiwan, and down into Indonesia. This invasive species has established it-self in Japan, South Korea, and much of Europe. Georgia and South Carolina have established survey and management programs. So far this year, 22 of the smaller embryo nests have been destroyed and two queens have been trapped. As of August 2025, the state of Georgia has trapped 940 hornets and eradicated 18 nests. The traps use a lure composed of a mixture of brown sugar and grape juice in a modified bucket trap. There are two types of nests: the initial embryo nests are built in the spring by the queen, and the larger nest is developed by worker class hornets later in the season. Embro nests can be found in a range of places, much like European Hornets (Vespa crabro). The primary nests are found in tree canopies at a height of 80 to 90 feet high. The nests are typically 30 to 32 inches tall. They are paper-like and have a side entrance.
Yellow legged hornets are closer in size to European honeybees and smaller than European Hornets. They are typically one inch long, though the queens are slightly larger at one and a quarter inch long. The namesake legs are yellow; the lower front of the head is yellow/orange, and the upper head is chestnut brown. The banding pattern on the abdomen has alternating solid black and orange bands with crisp edges. The European hornet has tell-tale drips of black that bleed into the yellow bands.
The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (the Department) is concerned about the potential for human- assisted spread of yellow legged hornet in New York. Trapping for non-native wasps has been carried out at high-risk areas for the past five years by the Department. Survey and trapping efforts will be increased in 2026. One to two apiary inspectors will be assigned to the SLELO region. No specific trap or survey locations have been established yet, but 25 traps will be placed statewide. Community science can contribute by reporting suspected yellow legged hornets. There will be a link for reporting soon on the Department’s Honeybee Health page. Reports can also be submitted to iMapInvasives.
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