Georgia agriculture officials are warning residents that invasive yellow-legged hornets remain active despite the change of season, with state crews continuing an aggressive eradication effort in the Savannah area.
The Georgia Department of Agriculture reported finding 1,310 hornets and 33 nests in September, according to WSB-TV. Crews also deployed 32 new traps and checked more than 8,200 traps during the month.
Why the hornets matter
Yellow-legged hornets are predators of honeybees and other insects, creating a potential threat to pollinators and agriculture. The species was first detected in the Savannah area in 2023 and remains concentrated in that region.
Agriculture officials are asking beekeepers and residents to watch for nests and for “hawking” behavior, where hornets hover around beehives and catch bees as they enter and leave.
Do not disturb a suspected nest
The state advises people not to approach or disturb a suspected nest. If it can be done safely, residents are encouraged to take a photo to help with identification and report the sighting to yellow.legged.hornet@agr.georgia.gov.
The eradication effort is continuing, and officials say cooler weather has not yet slowed the hornets enough to end field work.
