Georgia Department of Agriculture Eradicates Multiple Yellow-legged Hornet Nests, Renews Call for the Public’s Help

Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler J. Harper announced that the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s (GDA) Plant Protection Division, in collaboration with Savannah Pest Management Professionals and local homeowners, has successfully located and eradicated four Yellow-legged Hornet (YLH) embryo nests in the Savannah area in recent days. As weather warms and hornet activity increases, GDA is again asking the public for their help to eradicate this invasive pest from our state and protect Georgia’s #1 industry.

“Every Yellow-legged hornet embryo nest that we are able to find and destroy this spring represents thousands of hornets that will never come into existence,” said Agriculture Commissioner Tyler J Harper. “We are incredibly grateful for the assistance we have gotten from so many in the Savannah area, and we continue to urge Georgians to report any sightings via our online reporting form.”

Note on YLH Embryo Nests: 

Early detection and control of embryo nests are crucial to preventing the spread of this invasive species. Mated queens overwinter and emerge in spring to establish nests, which can range in size from a ping-pong ball to a tennis ball, often in sheltered areas like building eaves. Eliminating these nests early prevents queens from producing workers, reducing the formation of secondary nests and making future control efforts more effective.

Report Sightings: 

If you believe you’ve found an embryo nest, contact the GDA Plant Protection Division at yellow.legged.hornet@agr.georgia.gov or a licensed pest management professional to ensure proper eradication. For more information on Yellow-legged Hornets, visit https://agr.georgia.gov/yellow-legged-hornet.