‘Murder Hornet’ Cousin Found In US

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An invasive​ insect similar to the infamous "murder hornet" has been found in the wild in the United States for the first time ever.

The yellow-legged hornet was discovered earlier this month on a beekeeper's property in Savannah, Georgia, according to the state's Department of Agriculture.

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"​It's nickname is the 'bee hawk' for good reason. They're very agile, they can swoop down and capture honeybees in air and from the front of their hives," University of Georgia honeybee specialist Keith Delaplane said at a news conference Tuesday.

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UGA helped identify the species after the beekeeper reported it to the state. The yellow-legged hornet is native to tropical and subtropical Southeast Asia.

"​This is the first detection of live yellow-legged hornets in the open United States," Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper said in a news conference Tuesday.

Delaplane said the announcement is bad news for pollinators already stressed by the effects of climate change, extreme weather and other factors.

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H​ere are some other important things to know.

This isn't a big threat to humans or pets. Delaplane said the yellow-legged hornet isn't a significant health threat, even in areas where it's more common.

For honeybees, it's a different story. The yellow-legged hornet is related to the northern giant hornet, dubbed 'murder hornet' for its voracious appetite for bees. Northern giant hornets were first found in the U.S. in Washington State in 2020. Delaplane said it's important to note the yellow-legged hornet is a different insect. "​But," he said, "as far as its degradations on honeybees, it's at least as bad."

O​ne nest can hold 6,000 yellow-legged hornets. The species builds egg-shaped paper nests above ground, often in trees.

S​ightings should be reported. T​he Georgia Department of Agriculture has set up an online reporting tool on its website. The website also includes a detailed description and images. Outside of Georgia, sightings should be reported to a local extension agency or state agriculture department.

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