NC State Extension

The first finding of the yellow-legged hornet has been confirmed in North Carolina, and the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is asking beekeepers to watch for the invasive predator hornet.

This first established presence was discovered in Matthews, North Carolina. Survey, trapping and response efforts by NCDA&CS and USDA-APHIS-PPQ are ongoing.

The yellow-legged hornet is a predator of honey bees, native bees and other insects. They exhibit "hawking" behavior by hovering near the entrances of honey bee hives and capturing honey bees as they exit or enter the hive.

"Yellow-legged hornets are not an increased risk to humans (the risk of stings/attacks is similar to other native relatives), but they are dangerous to honey bees," said Matt Bertone, director of the NC State Plant Disease and Insect Clinic. "This is a species that will actively hunt honey bees and destroy hives, making it a destructive pest for beekeepers."

The invasive insect is about an inch long, with its most distinctive feature being that the bottom half of all its legs are yellow. Their hives can grow larger than other hornets' nests and have a reddish, muddy color.

Read more about the yellow-legged hornet and learn how to report any suspected sightings at the link in our comments.

As cases of cyclosporiasis grow in North Carolina, you may be wondering what you can do to keep you and your family safe. 🦠 Our NC State Extension food safety expert, Ellen Shumaker, has the answers.

Check out the Q&A at the link in our comments.

These pollinator snapshots give us butterflies! 🦋📸 We asked our NC State Extension community to share their best pollinator photos, and they truly brought the buzz. Swipe through to check out some of our incredible North Carolina pollinators.

Happy National Cow Appreciation Day, North Carolina! 🐮

Do you have bovine friends of your own? Share in the comments! 📸

Have you spotted a spotted lanternfly? 🔍 We need YOUR help to stomp the spread! 🛑

Spotted lanternfly is an invasive piercing-sucking insect that was first found in the U.S. in 2014 in Pennsylvania and spread quickly to over 18 states. It was first detected in North Carolina in 2022, and recent sightings have been reported this year. The agricultural pest can feed on more than 100 species of plants, including ornamentals and grapevines, with its preferred host being tree of heaven.

If you think you have seen a spotted lanternfly in your area, you can help by reporting sightings to the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Residents in Kernersville, Walkertown, Oak Ridge, High Point or Greensboro do not need to report, as these areas are generally infested.

Learn how to report sightings and help us stomp the spread: http://ncst.at/xJxK50ZlJT5

NC State Extension is working to help farmers navigate our state's historic drought.

North Carolina is currently dealing with abnormally dry conditions across all 100 counties. The months-long drought is creating significant issues for livestock producers across the state, with daily essentials like feeding and watering becoming challenges.

“There’s just no way you can survive in this business if you don’t have rain,” said Matt Poore, ruminant nutrition specialist with NC State Extension. “On the pasture-based livestock farms I work with, your primary crop is the pasture, the grass, the forage. When you lose that, you can’t support your animals.”

NC State Extension has launched a multi-pronged response to the disaster that includes training, timely updates and a drought-assistance portal with information about financial support programs to help offset feed losses for livestock producers.

Read more about how NC State Extension is helping farmers at the link in our comments.