Page 16 - 052020-Market-Bulletin

PAGE 16 FARMERS AND CONSUMERS MARKET BULLETIN – 404-656-3722 – agr.georgia.gov WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020
Asian giant hornet in the news

Sightings confirmed in Pacific Northwest

By GDA Plant Protection Division Asian Giant Hornet (Vespa mandarinia) European Giant Hornet (Vespa crabro) Cicada Killer (Sphecius speciosus)

In December 2019, the Washington State Abdomen: Has solid bands around its Abdomen: Has black and yellow bands of Abdomen: Has a mostly black abdomen
Department of Agriculture verified four reports abdomen. coloration around its abdomen. The black with yellow coloration – no bands.
of Asian giant hornet. These are the first-ever bands form distinctive shapes.
sightings in the United States. Canada also dis-
covered Asian giant hornet in two locations in
British Columbia in the fall of 2019.
One of the concerns with the Asian giant
hornet is it will attack and destroy honeybee
hives. A few hornets can destroy a hive in a
matter of hours. The hornets will decapitate
adult bees in the hive and take the bee larvae
to feed their own young.
There has been extensive media coverage
recently about the Asian giant hornet, and the Photo by Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org
Georgia Department of Agriculture has been Photo by Allan Smith-Pardo, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org
contacted by several concerned citizens. At Photo by Allan Smith-Pardo, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org
this time, there have been no confirmed cas-
es in Georgia or the Southeastern U.S. We
encourage people to contact the GDA or their
local University of Georgia County Extension
Office when an “unusual” insect is discovered.
This information is intended to provide those
concerned that an Asian giant hornet has been
Photo by Allan Smith-Pardo,
found in Georgia with some images that may Information: Asian giant hornets are Photo by Allan Smith-Pardo, Photo by Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado Information: These are solitary wasps (do
Photo by Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado
Photo by Allan Smith-Pardo, USDA
Photo by Allan Smith-Pardo,
Photo by Allan Smith-Pardo, USDA
Photo by Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado
Photo by Allan Smith-Pardo, USDA
Information: European hornets were first
USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org
State University, Bugwood.org
APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org
USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org
State University, Bugwood.org
APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org
State University, Bugwood.org
indicate the insect is not this invasive pest. the world’s largest species of hornet. In USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org not have nests) and can be found in late
reported in North America about 1840 in
Cicada Killer (Sphecius speciosus)
Asian Giant Hornet (Vespa
European Giant Hornet (Vespa
European Giant Hornet (Vespa
This information can also be found online at December 2019, the Washington State Asian Giant Hornet (Vespa Cicada Killer (Sphecius speciosus) summer, especially around sandy areas.
Asian Giant Hornet (Vespa
Cicada Killer (Sphecius speciosus)
European Giant Hornet (Vespa
New York. Since then, they have spread to
mandarinia)
crabro)
crabro)
mandarinia)
crabro) mandarinia)

http://agr.georgia.gov/invasive-pests.aspx. Department of Agriculture received and most of the eastern United States, reaching Sphecius speciosus females hunt cicadas,

There are two species of insects in Georgia verified four reports of Asian giant hornet. as far west as Louisiana and the Dakotas. paralyzing the adult with a sting.
that are large and often mistaken for Asian gi- These are the first-ever sightings in the
ant hornets. The European giant hornet (Vespa Pest Status: Non-Actionable/Non- Pest Status: None
crabro) and the Cicada Killer (Sphecius spe- United States. Canada had also discovered Reportable Size: up to 1 5/8 inch.
Asian giant hornet in two locations in
ciosus). The table below contains images of British Columbia in the fall of 2019. Size: 1 inch to 1 3/8 inch.
each insect’s abdomen. Based on coloration Websites:
and band type, the insect in question may be Pest Status: Websites: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/
eliminated as a suspect of being an Asian gi- Size: 1.5 to 2 inches https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/european- beneficial/cicada_killers.htm
ant hornet. For more information, please visit hornets https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef004
http://ncsupdicblog.blogspot.com/2015/08/are- Websites: https://extension.psu.edu/european-hornet
asian-or-japanese-giant-hornets-in.html https://agr.wa.gov/departments/insects-
pests-and-weeds/insects/hornets