Search and destroy mission for yellow-legged hornet: Secondary nests found in SC for 1st time

A search and destroy mission is on for the yellow-legged hornet , an insect highly sought after by Clemson University's Department of Plant Industry.

The mission comes after a Beaufort County man caught "hawking behavior" on camera, a term he used to describe the hornets' attack on his honeybees. He then alerted the DPI, which discovered the hornets nests in the trees and destroyed them.

“We found an embryo nest in April, but these are the first secondary nests we have found in South Carolina. We urge folks in the Lowcountry, especially the Bluffton and Hilton Head Island areas, to stay vigilant and report any suspicious nests or hornets to us immediately. That is our best shot at controlling this potentially devastating pest,” said Steven Long, assistant director with Clemson DPI.

Clemson addressed the public about the incident, which occurred near Hilton Head Island, on Aug. 16 and is continuing to search for other nests in Beaufort and Jasper Counties. Homeowners in the area will be asked by Clemson inspectors for property access before searching for nests. Inspectors can be identified by by badges, Clemson DPI branded shirts, and safety vests.

Here's what to know about the yellow-legged hornet.

Why kill yellow-legged hornets?

Native to Southeast Asia, the exotic yellow-legged hornet (Vespa velutina) is a predatory insect that feeds on social bees, wasps, and western honey bees. According to Clemson University, the hornet quickly spread through Western Europe in 2004, when it was first introduced to France. Beekeepers have reported colony losses due to the hornet's predatory behavior, with Clemson stating, "Establishment of this exotic pest in the U.S. poses a significant threat to our already embattled beekeeping enterprises."

Secondary nests can grow 'as long as a car engine'

Above ground, hornets build multiple egg-shaped nests in trees throughout the year. The more they grow in number, the more nests they will build, a fact that separates them from other nest-building insects. A mature nest can house up to 6,000 workers on average.

According to Clemson, "The queen begins with a small embryo nest for her and a few workers. As they outgrow this nest, the queen moves to another area sheltered from weather where the workers build a 'primary nest,' which can grow to around the size of a basketball. Midyear, she will relocate again to a 'secondary nest' — her final nest of the year aiming to maximize reproduction numbers."

If you think a primary seems large, a secondary nest can grow as long as a car engine.

When were yellow-legged hornets first found in SC?

S.C.'s first yellow-legged hornet encounter occurred on Nov. 9, 2023, after the DPI's Apiary Inspection Program worked with the Clemson Cooperative Extension Apiculture and Pollinator Program to design an early warning system tracking the insect. On March 14, a yellow legged queen was captured by the system's proactive trapping protocol. The first abandoned embryo nest was found in April 2024, and in August, the first secondary nests were found and eliminated. Secondary nests can be found from August to November in the Southeast.

What insects are the yellow-legged hornets confused with?

The yellow-legged hornet is oftentimes confused with native insects like the cicada killer wasp, bald-faced hornet, northern giant hornet, paper wasp, queen, wood wasp, queen yellowjacket, and robber fly. The hornet's larger size is what distinguishes it from these insects.

What do I do if I find a yellow-legged hornet nest?

If you come across a yellow-legged hornet nest, you may report your findings here and include photos. It is advised to leave the nest undisturbed so field inspectors can properly dispose of it.

Nina Tran covers trending topics for The Greenville News. Reach her via email at ntran@gannett.com .

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Search and destroy mission for yellow-legged hornet: Secondary nests found in SC for 1st time