State agriculture officials are warning North Carolinians about an invasive species that poses a growing threat to honeybees, honey production and crop pollination.
The yellow-legged hornet, a bee-killing predator native to Asia, has now been confirmed in North Carolina after an established population was discovered at a home in Matthews. The detection follows earlier sightings in Georgia and neighboring South Carolina, where officials say the insect has been steadily expanding its range.
“It was first detected in the U.S. in Savannah, Georgia, in 2023 and then just a few months later in Jasper County, South Carolina, across the border,” said Greg Wiggins, biological control administrator with the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. “Since that time, it’s been expanding its range in the Lowcountry of South Carolina.”…