Yellow Legged Hornets, Tropilaelaps and Apirapy Services
Have you been hearing the news about Yellow-legged hornets being found in NC? If not, you will tonight. Unfortunately, the yellow-legged hornet (Vespa velutina) is the next upcoming threat to our honey bees. Already spreading throughout Europe, it was found off the coast of Georgia in August 2023. This summer it has been confirmed in Matthews NC and recently in Highpoint NC. We also need to be aware of future threats like Tropilaelaps Mites that are occurring in other parts of the world and could arrive here. Don Hopkins will cover these threats and actions we can take locally to protect the future of the honey bees.
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Don started working bees when he was 10 years old in his home state of New Jersey. In 1988, he moved down to NC, becoming an Apiary Inspector with the NCDA in 1989. He became the Head Apiary Inspector for NC in 1993. Don has kept bees through the hard transition when tracheal mite, small hive beetles, and varroa were all introduced to the US. As state apiarist of North Carolina, Don supervises a staff of 5 full time bee inspectors and a lab technician and personally inspects over 2000 colonies himself each year. He volunteers with EAS and has traveled to countries like Bolivia, Haiti and Kazakhstan all to study bees.
