08/25/2026
A follow-up to the August Meeting;
Protect Your Bees—And Monitor for the Yellow-Legged Hornet
The invasive Yellow-Legged Hornet (Vespa velutina) has established populations in coastal Georgia and continues to expand its range, with experts expecting it to spread throughout the Southeast—including Florida. Unlike our native wasps and hornets, this species specializes in hunting honey bees, often hovering at hive entrances and intercepting returning foragers. Setting baited traps is becoming an important best management practice for beekeepers—not only to monitor for this invasive predator, but also to reduce populations of traditional apiary pests such as yellow jackets and paper wasps. Whether you use a commercial trap, a 3D-printed design, or a simple homemade trap, regular monitoring helps you protect your colonies and provides an early warning if Yellow-Legged Hornets arrive. If you capture a suspicious specimen, photograph it, preserve it if possible, and report it to your state Department of Agriculture or Cooperative Extension office. Early detection offers the best opportunity to locate and eliminate nests before they produce hundreds of new queens.
Recommended Baits: From February through May and September through November, use a sweet bait such as ½ cup brown sugar mixed with 1 cup grape juice. Other sugary drinks also work, but beekeepers should add 2 tablespoons of white vinegar or ½ cup of beer or red wine to discourage honey bees from entering the trap. During June through August, switch to protein baits such as wet cat food, canned chicken or fish, or uncooked meat scraps. Replace baits about every two weeks, check traps regularly, and stay alert for unusual hornets. By monitoring consistently and sharing observations, beekeepers can help slow the spread of this invasive pest while reducing nuisance wasps and yellow jackets around the apiary.
