Scientists from the Georgia Department of Agriculture claim to have detected a live specimen of an invasive yellow-legged hornet species for the very first time in the US. The agency, in coordination with the USDA and the University of Georgia, announced in a press release that a beekeeper in Savannah spotted an unusual-looking hornet on his property earlier this month and reported it to the GDA. Experts identified the insect as a yellow-legged hornet on August 9.
The invasive species has the potential to threaten honeybees and other native pollinators, which are critical for the agriculture industry. Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper: “This is a significant threat to Georgia agriculture.” He added that if the invasive species does establish in the state, it could threaten agriculture as a whole.
“American farmers grow more than 100 different crops that require pollination,” he said. “USDA estimates that pollinators add over $18 billion in revenue to the U.S. Crop Production every year and roughly one-third of food consumed by Americans comes from food or crops that require pollination. Many of these crops are grown by Georgia producers, they include apples, blueberries, and watermelons just to name a few.”
Source: ntd.com
