Breadcrumb

1. Home

2. Print 

3. Pdf 

4. Node 

5. Entity Print 

Yellow-Legged Hornet

Last Modified: 

Print

The yellow-legged hornet (Vespa velutina) is a social wasp species that constructs

nests above ground made from paper-like materials. These nests can be found

hanging in trees and on structures such as barns, garages and sheds. Nests can be

large and contain up to 6,000 workers.
Yellow-legged hornets feed on a variety of insects, including honeybees. If allowed to

establish in the United States, these invasive pests could threaten populations of

domestic and feral honey bees – some of which are already endangered – and other

native pollinators. Their presence could also disrupt the pollination of many crops.

What To Look For

The yellow-legged hornet is not native to the United States, but it can be mistaken

for a few domestic species. Take a look below at its distinctive markings. Then

review images of the look-alike species side by side with the yellow-legged hornet in

the "Yellow-Legged Hornet Look-Alikes" section. These other species are more likely

to be found in the United States and do not pose a significant environmental or

agricultural threat. In fact, some of these look-alikes can be beneficial pollinators.

Body length

From 0.7 to 1 inch long
Coloration

Head: Mostly black with some front-facing yellow or orange and black eyes

Thorax: Mostly solid dark brown or black

Abdomen: Alternating bands of dark brown or black and yellow or orange

Legs: Brown or black near the body, ending in yellow segments

Yellow-legged hornets have a “wasp waist” between the thorax and abdomen.

Report Plant Pests and Diseases

Have you seen this pest or signs of pest damage? Immediately report your findings.

Find your State plant regulatory official

Find your State plant health director

In Georgia only, people should report potential sightings of the yellow-legged

hornet through the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s online form.

Controlling Yellow-Legged Hornets

Current Status

The yellow-legged hornet was first detected in the United States when a beekeeper

in Savannah, GA, found an unusual hornet on his property and reported it to the

Georgia Department of Agriculture. On August 9, 2023, APHIS confirmed the

University of Georgia’s identification of this insect as a yellow-legged hornet.

Fourteen days later, a Georgia Department of Agriculture team safely eradicated the

hornet nest in Savannah. APHIS and Georgia officials continue to monitor the area

for any other nests.

The pest has not been found in any other State or Territory.

Yellow-Legged Hornet Look-Alikes

Bald-faced hornet (Dolichovespula maculata)
(left) bald-faced hornet (Dolichovespula maculata) | (right) yellow-legged

hornet (Vespa velutina) [USDA photo by Hanna Royals]

Found throughout much of North America

Workers grow to about 0.6 inches long, slightly smaller than the yellow-legged

hornet

Mostly black with pale yellow to white markings

Pale yellow to white face

Nests look similar to yellow-legged hornets’ nests, also made from paper-like

materials

Can be aggressive when disturbed

Elm sawfly (Cimbex americana)
(left) elm sawfly (Cimbex americana) | (right) yellow-legged hornet (Vespa

velutina) [USDA photo by Hanna Royals]

Found throughout much of North America

Ranges in size from 0.75 to 1 inch long

Lacks a “wasp waist” between the thorax and abdomen (unlike the yellowlegged hornet)

Has a white or yellow oval spot on the thorax

Does not have a stinger

Note: Females may be mostly yellow, more so resembling a wasp.

European hornet (Vespa crabro)
(left) European hornet (Vespa crabro) | (right) yellow-legged hornet (Vespa

velutina) [USDA photo by Hanna Royals]

Found in the eastern United States, especially in the Southeast

Ranges in size from 1 to 1.5 inches long

Markings can vary, but there are typically brown to black “teardrop” markings

on the primarily yellow abdomen (the yellow-legged hornet has more uniform

bands)

Note: The European hornet is not found west of the Rocky Mountains.

Great golden digger wasp (Sphex ichneumoneus)
(left) great golden digger wasp (Sphex ichneumoneus) | (right) yellowlegged hornet (Vespa velutina) [USDA photo by Hanna Royals]

Found throughout much of North America

Is about 1 inch long

Has a “wasp waist” that is very narrow and long

Has a dark brown to black body, with orange to yellow legs

Has an abdomen that is black with solid orange/red toward the front end, with

no banding like the yellow-legged hornet

Has golden hairs covering the head and middle of the body, which is unique to

this species

Hoverfly (Spilomyia spp.)
(left) hoverfly (Spilomyia spp.) | (right) yellow-legged hornet (Vespa

velutina) [USDA photo by Hanna Royals]

Found throughout much of North America

Workers grow to about 0.5 inches long, slightly smaller than the yellow-legged

hornet

Often is more brightly marked with yellow or orange and black compared with

the yellow-legged hornet

Has only one pair of wings, while hornets have two pairs

Does not have a stinger

Northern giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia)
(left) northern giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia) | (right) yellow-legged

hornet (Vespa velutina) [USDA photo by Todd Gilligan]

Ranges in size from 1.5 to 2 inches long, significantly longer than the yellowlegged hornet

Has an orange head

Note: The northern giant hornet was first detected in northwest Washington State in

2019. State officials located and eradicated four nests by the end of 2021. There

have been no confirmed reports of northern giant hornets anywhere in the United

States since then.

Western cicada killer (Sphecius grandis)
(left) western cicada killer (Sphecius grandis) | (right) yellow-legged hornet

(Vespa velutina) [USDA photo by Hanna Royals]

Found in the western United States

Can be up to 2 inches long

Has a smaller head in proportion to the body than does the yellow-legged

hornet

Has different banding on the abdomen compared with the yellow-legged hornet

Has a reddish thorax instead of the black thorax on the yellow-legged hornet

Has round eyes, unlike hornets

Various species of paper wasps (Polistes spp.)
(left) various species of paper wasps (Polistes spp.) | (right) yellow-legged

hornet (Vespa velutina) [USDA photo by Todd Gilligan]

Many different species are found throughout the United States

Workers grow to about 0.5 inches long, slightly smaller than the yellow-legged

hornet

Most species have a very narrow waist

Various species of yellowjackets (Vespula spp.)
(left) various species of yellowjackets (Vespula spp.) | (right) yellow-legged

hornet (Vespa velutina) [USDA photo by Todd Gilligan]

Different species are found throughout the United States

Workers grow to about 0.5 inches long, slightly smaller than the yellow-legged

hornet

Often are more brightly marked with yellow or orange and black compared with

the yellow-legged hornet

Acknowledgements

All photographs shown above are the products of APHIS’ Identification Technology

Program (ITP). Colorado State University’s C. P. Gillette Museum of Arthropod

Diversity provided the specimens.

ITP’s pest identification experts use high-technology imaging systems, software, and

molecular diagnostics to create a wide array of digital and other identification tools.

Visit idtools.org to browse their extensive pest identification resources.
If you are interested in pollinator health, you may find these three ITP identification

resources useful:

Bee Mite ID Guide

Exotic Bee ID guide

North American Hornet Screening Tool

You may also wish to visit the Invasive Hornets Project for hornet images.

Life Cycle and Biology

Spring: A fertilized queen emerges after surviving the winter. She enters a brief

pre-nesting stage. The queen feeds on sap while her ovaries develop, and she looks

for a suitable nesting site. She usually nests above ground, in trees.

Summer: Once the queen selects a suitable site, she enters a solitary phase. During

this time, she alone is responsible for building a nest, foraging, laying eggs, and

caring for young. The queen later becomes completely nest-bound, and the workers

assume all duties outside of the nest.

Late Summer/Early Fall: When temperatures start to peak in summer, the colony

begins producing males and the next year’s queens. To obtain food with higher

protein for the developing “reproductives,” yellow-legged hornets may attack honey

bee hives in the late summer/early fall. Yellow-legged hornets may attack other

social bees and wasps at this time.

Fall: Males develop and leave the nest before females. They will perch at the

entrance of nests waiting to mate with the new queens, which emerge about 1

month later. New queens must mate before waiting out the winter because males

will not be present when the queens emerge the following spring.

Winter: After mating, a new queen will remain in a sheltered spot to survive the

colder months. The cycle begins again the following spring when the new queens

emerge.