Invasive yellow-legged hornet, which ‘poses a threat to honeybees,’ detected in the wild for the first time in the United States | CNN
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The presence of the invasive and predatory yellow-legged hornet, native to southeast Asia, has been confirmed near Savannah, Georgia. While they have not established colonies in the U.S. southeast region, the hornets pose a threat to honey bee populations.

The first live specimen of a yellow-legged hornet, which “poses a threat to honeybees and other pollinators,” has been detected in the wild in the United States, according to a release from the Georgia Department of Agriculture.

The GDA, US Department of Agriculture, and the University of Georgia confirmed the presence of the hornet near Savannah, Georgia, in August, the release said.

The yellow-legged hornet is native to tropical and subtropical areas of Southeast Asia and feeds on a variety of insects, according to the GDA. “If allowed to establish in the US, this invasive species could threaten honey production and Georgia’s native pollinators,” the release said.