Menacing hornets found in SC near Charlotte, two years after invading Lowcountry
Exotic stinging insects first discovered in the Lowcountry two years ago have now been found in South Carolina’s foothills south of Charlotte, raising concerns about the bugs’ potential effect on honeybee populations across the state.
A nest of yellow-legged hornets, which are native to southeast Asia, was found Monday in York County, according to a news release from Clemson University. A beekeeper told Clemson about seeing hornets hovering over a beehive and preying on honeybees.
Clemson plans to remove the hornets nest this week, the university said. Clemson’s Department of Plant Industry investigates reports of invasive species that could affect agriculture in South Carolina. The finding in York County is the first in South Carolina outside the Lowcountry.
“Thanks to this vigilant beekeeper detecting and reporting the hornet, we were able to quickly follow up and use a system of trapping and tracking to locate the nest,” the news release said, quoting Brad Cavin, who oversees Clemson’s yellow-legged hornet response team. .
Yellow-legged hornets can sting people, like other hornets, but they are of most concern as a threat to the beekeeping industry. They are one of the main predators of honeybees and have already caused damage in Europe, the university said.
Beekeepers in the United States are worried about the hornet because the industry has recently suffered a bee colony loss rate of 60 %, according to Clemson.
Bees pollinate a variety of nuts and fruits, while producing honey that people eat. Honeybees contribute roughly $20 billion to the U.S. economy.
Mature nests of yellow-legged hornets can contain thousands of insects. These hornets are generally larger than many yellow jackets, wasps and other types of hornets. They contain distinctive yellow legs.
Clemson says it will be scouring the York County area during the next year, looking for more signs of the hornets. But the university also wants the public to be on the look out as well.
The university said it does not know if the hornets discovered in York County moved across the state from the Lowcountry, where they were confirmed in November 2023. The university said, however, that invasive species can travel great distances. Yellow legged hornets are suspected of moving into South Carolina from the port of Savannah, Ga. Experts suspect some of the hornets stowed away on a ship that docked at Savannah.
To report a sighting of a suspicious hornet in South Carolina, contact Clemson at https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/4654e1d5a6be4b47aa7acd2ff0a357cf
Residents of Charlotte and other parts of North Carolina can report a sighting at https://www.ncagr.gov/YLH, Clemson says.
Staff writer Sammy Fretwell contributed to this report
