Yellow-legged Hornets Nests Found and Destroyed in South Carolina
A Mission Hastened by Hawkish Behavior
In a swift and decisive operation, multiple secondary nests of the yellow-legged hornet (Vespa velutina) were found and eradicated near Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. The Clemson University Department of Plant Industry (DPI) acted promptly after receiving a distress signal from a beekeeper in Beaufort County, who filmed the hornets launching an attack on his bee colony in a behavior referred to as ‘hawking behavior’. Weathering this evident threat to the beekeeping industry, the DPI dispatched its personnel to militarily exploit a trapping system and bring down the perpetrators.
Team DPI in Action
Following a discovery of an embryo nest in April, this is the first secondary nest found in South Carolina, putting the residents of Lowcountry, particularly those in Bluffton and Hilton Head Island zones, on high alert. Assistant Director of Clemson DPI, Steven Long, urged vigilance and timely reporting of suspicious sightings, their best defense against a possible outbreak of the menacing pests. As the search continues in Beaufort and Jasper Counties, homeowners are being requested to allow DPI officials, identifiable by badges or Clemson DPI branded shirts and safety vests, access to their property.
A Call for Cooperation
“They are doing their jobs to protect the state from these hornets and the damage they can do to our beekeeping industry. This will be an ongoing effort,” said Brad Cavin, the coordinator of the Clemson University program responsible for battling the invasive hornets. The residents have been solicited to either leave any found nest undisturbed for it to be appropriately dispatched by field inspectors or provide photos with their reports.
Remain Alert & Stay Tuned
As efforts to control the yellow-legged hornet threat continue, residents are urged to remain alert, report any suspicious nests, and cooperate with DPI officials to protect South Carolina’s environment and beekeeping industry. For further updates and information, stay tuned.
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