OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) Pest Program is asking the public to be on the lookout in the Vancouver, WA area after a live yellow-legged hornet (Vespa velutina) was intercepted on a vessel at the Port of Vancouver.
The yellow-legged hornet is highly invasive. It has spread rapidly through Europe, where it has caused a 30% reduction in honey bee hives and honey production. It was introduced to Georgia near the Port of Savannah in 2023 and has since spread to nearby South Carolina. Both states are currently undergoing eradication efforts.
What to look for…