In a troubling development, a yellow-legged hornet has been discovered in the United States for the first time. This particular species, known as Vespa velutina, is invasive and was spotted alive by a beekeeper in Georgia. According to CBS News, if the yellow-legged hornet is not properly controlled, it could cause significant damage to agriculture in the state. Georgia’s agricultural commissioner has stated that their team is collaborating with USDA APHIS and UGA to trap, track, and eradicate this invasive species in Georgia.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has referred to this hornet as a smaller “bee-eating cousin” of the notorious murder hornets, another invasive species plaguing the United States. As a social wasp species, this hornet feeds on insects including honeybees, and this could have a negative impact on crops that rely on pollinators. While it is native to tropical regions of Southeast Asia, it has spread to other parts of Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. As experts in Georgia investigate the situation further, they will conduct DNA tests on the discovered specimen to determine its country of origin. It is worth noting that this species is often referred to as a “bee hawk” due to its attacking behavior while in flight. (Read more about invasive species stories.)
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
