The Invasive Insect That May Be Threatening The Pollinators In Your Yard

First, the good news. The number of pollinator-eating, yellow-legged hornets in the United States remains relatively small and contained since the first invader from Europe was identified in 2023 in Georgia. At that time, some experts predicted the hornet was unlikely to establish itself in the United States. Today, these flying insects are present in both Georgia and South Carolina. As of late August 2025, Georgia's Department of Agriculture reported the capture of 990 yellow-legged hornets and the eradication of 18 of their nests.

Government authorities take the yellow-legged hornet seriously because of its potential to disrupt agricultural crops by killing honeybees and other beneficial pollinators. The beekeeping and honey sectors are also at risk. This hornet can devastate honeybee colonies quickly. Yellow-legged hornets have killed or weakened 30% of honeybee colonies in France. The hornets hang out where their favorite meals are likely to be found—around bee and wasp nests and pollinator-attracting flowers. Here's what to do if you spot them. 

The yellow-legged hornet is not particularly a threat to humans. It is easily confused with other hornets but has distinguishing characteristics. At about 3/4 of an inch long, yellow-legged are smaller than some hornets. They have narrow, cinched waists. They should perhaps be renamed "yellow-socked hornet" because only the bottom halves of their legs are yellow. Arguably, their most distinguishing feature is the wide yellow stripe on their abdomens. You won't likely confuse the yellow-legged hornet with the wasps you might find in your yard. Another piece of good news is this is not the so-called Asian murder hornet, which was eradicated in the United States in 2024.

Like other hornets, yellow-legged hornets create sizable paper nests that are home to up to 6,000 worker hornets. You may see nests in high places like trees, bushes, shrubs, awnings, and porches, and as high as 60  feet above ground. You may wonder what to do if you have a hornets' nest around your lawn. You can remove it yourself or hire a professional to remove a hornet nest. But don't stop there.

Because yellow-legged hornet is a new species in the United States that authorities are endeavoring to eradicate, you should report it to your state's agriculture department just as Georgia has asked its residents to do. The Georgia Department of Agriculture prefers to conduct nest removal so they can be sure the queen is eradicated and so traps can be set for stray hornets. The ideal scenario is to identify nests early in the season before the hornets start killing pollinators and stealing their food supplies.