Lookalike of invasive hornet threatens Southern pollinator populations.

The yellow-legged hornet, also known as the Asian hornet, features a dark body with a yellow/orange fourth abdominal segment and brown legs tipped with yellow. Workers can reach up to 25mm, while queens can grow to 30mm. The use of harmful pesticides in agriculture is contributing to the extinction of various insect species.

Over the past two decades, the American bumblebee population has plummeted by 90%, with other North American bumblebee species also facing significant declines. Pesticides are a major factor in this trend, exacerbated by climate change. A study from Georgia Tech has linked the pesticide sulfoxaflor to negative impacts on bumblebee reproduction and gene expression, raising concerns about the future of these vital pollinators.