According to Georgia state authorities, a new invasive bee-eating hornet has been discovered in the United States for the first time.

In early August, a beekeeper near Savannah, Georgia, noticed an unusual-looking hornet and reported it to authorities, the Georgia Department of Agriculture said in a press release. Experts called in confirmed that the specimen was a yellow-legged hornet, native to tropical and subtropical parts of Southeast Asia.

One of its preferred food sources is the honey bee, according to the GDA.

The University of Georgia, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Plant Health Inspection Service and the GDA announced the hornet’s arrival on August 15.

Although only one hornet was reportedly found, experts are sounding the alarm about the potential ecological impact of this invasive wasp.

“If allowed to establish themselves in Georgia, they could potentially threaten honey production, native pollinators and our state’s most important industry – agriculture,” experts wrote in the press release.

According to the Georgia Department of Economic Development, agriculture is the largest industry in Georgia, with an economic value of $74 billion per year.

“These pollinators play a vital role in Georgia agriculture,” the press release states, “and it is imperative that these invasive pests are identified and eradicated.”

Honey bees themselves are not native to the United States, according to the USDA, but they play an important role in spreading pollen that promotes plant growth. “Honey bees pollinate $15 billion worth of crops in the United States each year, including more than 130 types of fruits, nuts and vegetables,” experts say.

The yellow-legged hornet is related to the northern giant hornet, which is also called the Asian giant hornet or “killer hornet” because of its ability to kill bees.

This species was found in the Pacific Northwest in 2019, and experts began an aggressive campaign to track down and eradicate the invasive species, which also poses a threat to pollinators. No northern giant hornets have been found in Washington state in 2022, the Associated Press reported.

The yellow-legged hornet is a social wasp, according to the GDA. It builds egg-shaped nests made of paper above the ground, often in trees, and its nests can accommodate an average of 6,000 workers.

State authorities are asking residents to report any sightings of the hornet, known for its namesake yellow legs, but experts warn that while other hornets in the U.S. look like the yellow-legged hornet, they are native species and do not harm bees, the release said.

“Georgia citizens play an important role in helping GDA identify unwanted, non-native pests, and I want to thank the beekeeper who reported his sighting to us,” said Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper.

Harper said several agencies are working together to “capture, track and eradicate the yellow-legged hornet in Georgia.”

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