Georgia Officials Warn of Invasive Hornet Threat

Sometimes hearing a "buzz buzz" is a positive sign of pollination. Other times, it's not so good. It's that second scenario prompting a warning from state officials in Georgia that has implications across the southeast.

Yellow-legged Hornets are emerging from overwintering and beginning to establish new nests, and officials say timing matters. Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler J Harper is urging residents, especially in coastal areas, to stay alert for early-stage embryo and primary nests.

The Georgia Department of Agriculture has spent nearly three years tracking, trapping, and working to contain the invasive pest. Officials say the focus now is stopping the problem early, before nests grow and spread.

Harper says, “Early reporting of embryo and primary nests is critical—it allows us to stop queens before they spread and reduces potential damage to our state’s honeybee population.”

If you believe you’ve found a nest, do not remove it yourself. Contact state officials or a licensed pest professional.

Across the southeast, the message is simple: stay vigilant and report what you see.