{"id":459180,"date":"2025-12-20T03:26:16","date_gmt":"2025-12-20T03:26:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/459180\/"},"modified":"2025-12-20T03:26:16","modified_gmt":"2025-12-20T03:26:16","slug":"yellow-legged-hornet-nest-found-in-york-county-first-sighting-outside-lowcountry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/459180\/","title":{"rendered":"Yellow-legged hornet nest found in York County, first sighting outside Lowcountry"},"content":{"rendered":"

Yellow-legged hornet nest found in York County, first sighting outside Lowcountry<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t644. IN TIME FOR NEWS TO GO, WE HAVE A LOOK AT TODAY\u2019S TOP NEWS STORIES. YOUR TRAFFIC AND WEATHER ALL BEFORE YOU HEAD OUT THE DOOR. WE BEGIN WITH BREAKING NEWS. SEVEN PEOPLE ARE DEAD AFTER A PLANE CRASH IN NORTH CAROLINA. THAT CRASH HAPPENED YESTERDAY MORNING AT STATESVILLE REGIONAL AIRPORT. AUTHORITIES SAY A BUSINESS JET WITH SEVEN PEOPLE ON BOARD CRASHED WHILE TRYING TO LAND LAST NIGHT. FAMILY MEMBERS OF FORMER NASCAR DRIVER GREG BIFFLE CONFIRMED HE WAS ON THE PLANE, ALONG WITH HIS IMMEDIATE FAMILY. IN A STATEMENT, A FAMILY SPOKESPERSON CONFIRMED BIFFLE, HIS WIFE CHRISTINA, THEIR SON RYDER, AND GREG\u2019S DAUGHTER EMMA WERE AMONG THE VICTIMS. BIFFLE\u2019S ASSISTANT, CRAIG WADSWORTH, WAS ALSO KILLED, ALONG WITH DENIS DUTTON AND HIS SON JACK DUTTON. FLIGHT PLANS SHOW THE PLANE WAS BOUND FOR SARASOTA AND HAD THREE ADDITIONAL FLIGHTS PLANNED FOR THURSDAY AND A PLANNED RETURN TO STATESVILLE LAST NIGHT. THAT\u2019S ACCORDING TO THE HURST NATIONAL INVESTIGATIVE UNIT. THE JET REACHED ITS HIGHEST ALTITUDE LESS THAN TWO MINUTES AFTER DEPARTURE. THEN IT BEGAN TO DESCEND. THE FINAL RECORDED DATA POINT, WHICH WAS NINE MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF, SHOWS THE PLANE LESS THAN A HALF MILE FROM THE AIRPORT IN LINE WITH THE RUNWAY. NTSB IS EXPECTED TO SPEAK MORE ABOUT THE CRASH TODAY, AND AS WE LEARN MORE ABOUT THAT INVESTIGATION, WE\u2019LL HAVE IT FOR YOU. YOU CAN READ MORE ABOUT THE CRASH ON WYFF 4 DOT COM AND ON THE WYFF 4 MOBILE APP. IN NORTH CAROLINA, HEALTH LEADERS SAY SOMEONE WITH MEASLES TRAVELED THROUGH RALEIGH-DURHAM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WHILE INFECTED. THEY SAY THAT PERSON WHO LIVES IN ANOTHER STATE GOT TO THE AIRPORT LAST WEEK. HEALTH LEADERS SAY THERE\u2019S NO KNOWN HEALTH RISK, BUT THEY SAY ANY PERSON WHO WAS AT DUE IN TERMINAL TWO BETWEEN 4 A.M. TO 8 A.M. ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10TH COULD HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO MEASLES AND SHOULD MONITOR SYMPTOMS UNTIL JANUARY 1ST. OUR DATA TEAM IS TRACKING MEASLES CASES AND OUTBREAKS ACROSS THE U.S. BASED ON NUMBERS FROM THE CDC. SO TAKING A LOOK AT A MAP WHICH SHOWS CONFIRMED CASES BY STATE AS OF DECEMBER 17TH, TEXAS IS REPORTING MORE THAN 800 INFECTIONS, WHILE UTAH, ARIZONA, NEW MEXICO AND SOUTH CAROLINA ARE REPORTING 100 TO 250 CASES. WE\u2019RE ALSO EXPECTED TO GET UPDATED DATA ON THAT OUTBREAK TODAY IN THE UPSTATE. YOU\u2019LL FIND THAT INFORMATION ALONG WITH OUR COVERAGE ON WYFF 4 DOT COM, AND ALSO IN THE WYFF 4 MOBILE APP. PRESIDENT TRUMP SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT WILL EASE RESTRICTIONS ON MARIJUANA. THURSDAY\u2019S MOVE WOULD RESCHEDULE MARIJUANA TO A LOWER CLASSIFICATION. NOW, IT DOES NOT MEAN FULL LEGALIZATION. THE DEA CLASSIFIES MARIJUANA AS A SCHEDULE ONE DRUG, AND IT DESCRIBES IT AS HAVING A HIGH POTENTIAL FOR ABUSE WITH NO ACCEPTED MEDICAL USE. THE CHANGE WOULD RECLASSIFY MARIJUANA AS A SCHEDULE THREE DRUG, WHICH MEANS IT WOULD BE CONSIDERED LESS ADDICTIVE. THE ORDER ALSO PAVES THE WAY FOR THE FDA TO STUDY MARIJUANA\u2019S MEDICINAL USES. SENATOR TED BUDD OF NORTH CAROLINA SWIFTLY CONDEMNED THE PRESIDENT\u2019S EXECUTIVE ORDER, SAYING IN A STATEMENT, QUOTE, RESCHEDULING MARIJUANA TO A SCHEDULE THREE SUBSTANCE AND PUTTING MORE MONEY IN THE POCKETS OF MARIJUANA COMPANIES IS SHORTSIGHTED POLICY DECISION THAT WILL HAVE DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS ON THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF AMERICANS, ESPECIALLY OUR NATION\u2019S YOUTH, END QUOTE. TODAY IS THE FINAL DAY. YOU CAN SUGGEST PROJECTS YOU THINK WILL IMPROVE THE CITY OF HENDERSONVILLE, THE CITY SETTING ASIDE $25,000 FOR PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY TO DECIDE HOW THOSE FUNDS SHOULD BE USED. COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN SUBMIT THEIR IDEAS THROUGH AN APPLICATION, BUT IT\u2019S IMPORTANT TO NOTE IT\u2019S SPECIFICALLY FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS. THOSE THAT CREATE OR IMPROVE A LONG ASSET THINK THINGS LIKE SPEED, RADAR SIGNS, PARK ENHANCEMENTS, OR UPDATES TO SERVICES. AFTER REVIEW AND SCORING, THE TOP RANKED PROJECT OR PROJECTS WILL GET FUNDING. THE APPLICATIONS ARE DUE TODAY, SO BE SURE TO HEAD TO HVL. NC GOV. HENDERSONVILLE TO SUBMIT YOUR IDEA. VICTORIA. ALL RIGHT, CLEARED OUT. YOU MIGHT SEE SOME WET PAVEMENT, BUT THE WIND SHOULD DRY IT OUT QUICKLY FOR TODAY. WIND GUSTS TOPPING 30 TO 35MPH HERE IN THE UPSTATE THIS AFTERNOON. NOW TOWARDS WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. GUSTS WILL TOP 40. ANYTHING OUTSIDE? MAKE SURE TO HUNKER DOWN IF YOU HAVE ANY FURNITURE OR MAYBE CHRISTMAS DECOR. THE EASE FOR THE UPSTATE LATER TONIGHT AND FOR MOST OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA, THOUGH, THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS WILL KEEP GUSTS NEAR 30. THERE IS A WIND ADVISORY IN PLACE STRETCHING ALL THE WAY FROM CULLOWHEE UP TOWARDS ASHEVILLE FOR THIS AFTERNOON. AND AGAIN, THAT IS FOR GUSTS NEAR 40 TO 45 MILES AN HOUR UNTIL ABOUT 7 P.M. FOR TONIGHT. REGARDLESS, WE HAVE PLENTY OF SUNSHINE IN THE FORECAST FOR TODAY, WHICH IS THE BEST NEWS, AND TEMPERATURES ARE WARMING UP TOWARDS THE UPPER 50S FOR THE UPSTATE, WHICH IS ABOVE AVERAGE FOR THIS TIME OF THE YEAR. AND THAT\u2019S SIMILAR FOR THE MOUNTAINS. HOWEVER, WE\u2019LL SEE TEMPERATURES IN THE 40S IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA, AND THE WIND GUSTS WILL FEEL LIKE WE\u2019RE IN THE 40S, SIMILAR FOR OUR FOUR-DAY PLUS AGAIN, WARMING UP AS WE HEAD TOWARDS CHRISTMAS. AND THAT\u2019S SIMILAR FOR THE MOUNTAINS NEARING ALMOST 70 DEGREES IN SPOTS. AARON VITTORIA, THANK YOU. 648 NOW LET\u2019S TAKE A LOOK AT TRAFFIC AND SEE WHERE IT STANDS. ISABELLE MARAK JOINS US ON THE ROAD RIGHT NOW WITH A PEEK AT HOLIDAY TRAFFIC. HEY, ISABELLE. HEY, ERIN. GOOD MORNING. YEAH, WE\u2019RE GOING TO START TO SEE SOME OF THAT HOLIDAY TRAFFIC STARTING TOMORROW, MAYBE EVEN TODAY AROUND 385 NORTHBOUND HEADED BACK TOWARDS GREENVILLE. IT SEEMS TO BE PRETTY SMOOTH SAILING ON THE ROADS, YOU KNOW, BUT IF YOU\u2019RE TAKING OFF FOR THE HOLIDAY, TRIPLE A SAYS TO LEAVE EARLY BEFORE TEN IN THE MORNING, OR YOU WANT TO LEAVE A LITTLE BIT LATER, MAYBE AFTER RUSH HOUR, WE\u2019LL HAVE ANOTHER CHECK COMING UP. BUT FOR NOW, I\u2019M GOING TO SEND IT BACK TO YOU GUYS. ISABELLE. THANK YOU. IT\u2019S NOT JUST TRAVELING VIA CAR EITHER. MILLIONS OF AMERICANS ARE EXPECTED TO FLY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, WITH MANY TAKING GIFTS FOR LOVED ONES. BUT WHAT FESTIVE GOODS ARE ACTUALLY TSA APPROVED? AMY LU SHARING THE BEST TIPS ON WHAT CAN AND CAN\u2019T FLY. FLYING WITH GIFTS FOR THE HOLIDAYS. HERE ARE THE DO\u2019S AND DON\u2019TS TO HELP MAKE JET SETTING A BREEZE. FIRST, MAKE SURE YOUR ITEMS ARE ON TSA. NICE LIST. YOU CAN CHECK WHICH ITEMS ARE ALLOWED ON TSA WEBSITE OR APP. FOR EXAMPLE, SQUIRT GUNS, TOY SWORDS, OR OTHER ITEMS THAT RESEMBLE REALISTIC FIREARMS OR WEAPONS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN CARRY ON BAGS, BUT CAN BE IN CHECKED BAGS. NEXT, AVOID WRAPPING GIFTS. TSA WILL OPEN THEM IF THE ITEM TRIGGERS AN ALARM. INSTEAD, PACK PRESENTS AND GIFT BAGS OR BOXES FOR FRAGILE GIFTS. KEEP THEM CLOSE IN YOUR CARRY ON OR PERSONAL ITEM. CUSHION THEM WITH SOFT CLOTHES OR BUBBLE WRAP TO REDUCE DAMAGE. IF YOU WANT TO BRING YOUR FAVORITE FESTIVE DISHES HOME, SOLID FOODS LIKE MEATS, PIES AND CHOCOLATES CAN GO IN A CARRY ON BAG. HOWEVER, LIQUIDS AND SPREADABLE FOODS LIKE EGGNOG, GRAVY AND PRESERVES NEED TO GO IN CHECKED BAGS. AND OF COURSE, ANY LIQUID OVER 3.4OZ NEEDS TO BE IN A CHECKED BAG. AND FOR EXTRA PEACE OF MIND, POP IN A TRACKING DEVICE LIKE AN AIRTAG IN YOUR LUGGAGE. REPORTING IN WASHINGTON, I\u2019M AMY LU. MEANWHILE, NOW IS THE TIME TO GET YOUR HOLIDAY CARDS AND GIFTS READY TO SEND WITH PLANS THEY\u2019LL GET TO THEIR RECIPIENT BY CHRISTMAS DAY. USPS TOMORROW IS THE FINAL DAY FOR PRIORITY MAIL EXPRESS, WHILE UPS RECOMMENDS SHIPPING PACKAGES BY TODAY FOR THREE DAY SELECT OR DECEMBER 20TH SECOND OR 23RD FOR SECOND OR NEXT DAY AIR, FEDEX RECOMMENDS SHIPPING BY DECEMBER 23RD FOR DELIVERY BY CHRISTMAS EVE. THE CLOCK IS TICKING DOWN UNTIL CHRISTMAS DAY, AND IF YOU\u2019RE STRESSING ABOUT WHAT TO GIVE, THE PERSON THAT HAS EVERYTHING, OR IF YOU JUST NEED A LAST MINUTE HOLIDAY GIFT, CASH IS ALWAYS AN OPTION. LOVE THAT MONEY. A NEW AP POLL REVEALS MOST ADULTS ARE OKAY WITH GIVING MONEY AS A PRESENT. IN FACT, ABOUT 6 IN 10 AMERICANS DEEM CASH AS A VERY ACCEPTABLE HOLIDAY GIFT. TWO THIRDS OF RESPONDENTS UNDER 45 SAY CASH IS THE WAY TO GO. YOU CAN ENJOY SOME HOLIDAY LIGHTS, ALL WHILE HELPING A GOOD CAUSE AS A FLAT ROCK CHRISTMAS LIGHTS FUNDRAISER IS UNDERWAY. YOU HAVE THE CHANCE TO EXPLORE LIGHTS, SIP SOME HOT COCOA, AND ENJOY A CHRISTMAS COOKIE. FUNDRAISER. BENEFITS CELL A SANCTUARY, WHICH IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT RESCUES AND REHOMES DOGS IN NEED. YOU CAN FIND THE EVENT AT THREE EAST BOXWOOD LOOP FROM NOW THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT FROM 6 TO 9:00. AND TONIGHT\u2019S THE FIRST PERFORMANCE OF THE NUTCRACKER. ONCE UPON A TIME IN GREENVILLE. THERE ARE FOUR SHOWS THIS WEEKEND AT THE PEACE CENTER AND NEARLY SOLD OUT AS WELL. IT\u2019S BEING PUT ON BY CAROLINA BALLET, AND YOU CAN EXPECT SOME NODS TO THE UPSTATE. WE CALL OUR OUR PERFORMANCE THE NUTCRACKER. ONCE UPON A TIME IN GREENVILLE BECAUSE WHILE IT\u2019S A TRADITIONAL NUTCRACKER, WE LIKE TO GIVE IT SOME LOCAL FLAIR AND SOME LITTLE TWISTS AND TURNS. FOR EXAMPLE, THE MICE ON MAIN MAKE AN APPEARANCE. THE LIBERTY BRIDGE MAKES AN APPEARANCE. AND SOME OF THOSE THINGS WE WANT TO DO SO THAT PEOPLE FEEL LIKE IT\u2019S REALLY TAILORED TO LIFE IN GREENVILLE. ORGANIZERS SAY IF YOU\u2019RE ATTENDING IT, PLAN TO ARRIVE ABOUT 30 MINUTES AHEAD OF TIME, AND THAT SHOULD GIVE YOU ENOUGH TIME TO FIND PARKING, GRAB A DRINK AND FIND YOUR SEATS. WYFF 4 IS PARTNERING WITH THE GREENVILLE NEWS FOR THE HOLIDAY SUNSHINE FUND, AND EVERY DOLLAR STAYS RIGHT HERE TO HELP PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR SCREEN. SO FAR, YOU\u2019VE GENEROUSLY DONATED MORE THAN $47,000. BUT IF YOU HAVEN\u2019T YET, YOU\u2019D LIKE TO GIVE. THERE ARE PLENTY OF WAYS YOU CAN DO SO. THOSE AR\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Yellow-legged hornet nest found in York County, first sighting outside Lowcountry<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"WYFF<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tUpdated: 6:22 PM EST Dec 19, 2025\n\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\tEditorial Standards \u24d8<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\tA nest of the invasive yellow-legged hornet has been found in York County, marking the first detection of the species in South Carolina outside the Lowcountry.Earlier this month, officials with the Clemson University Department of Plant Industry were alerted to the nest after a beekeeper in York County noticed unusually aggressive hornet behavior known as \u201chawking,\u201d during which hornets hover near hives to capture bees.The beekeeper reported the activity to DPI, and inspectors used trapping and tracking methods to find the nest.York County residents are encouraged to report suspicious hornet activity and allow inspectors to access their property, as DPI expects to be trapping and surveying the county for at least the next year. *Report possible sightings in South Carolina here* The first known detection of the yellow-legged hornet in South Carolina happened in November 2023.Although these hornets do not pose any greater risk to humans than other hornets, they threaten the U.S. beekeeping industry.”Yellow-legged hornets are a principal pest of honey bees, having caused increased colony losses in western Europe since their detection in 2004. Their establishment and spread in the U.S. is alarming for beekeepers, who are already reeling from a year in which the nation\u2019s colony loss rate was greater than 60 percent,” according to DPI.Yellow-legged hornets, which are native to Southeast Asia, build paper nests high in trees or sometimes on man-made structures.\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tYORK COUNTY, S.C. \u2014<\/strong> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

A nest of the invasive yellow-legged hornet has been found in York County, marking the first detection of the species in South Carolina outside the Lowcountry.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"yellow-legged<\/p>\n

\n\t\tSouth Carolina Forestry Commission\t<\/p>\n

Earlier this month, officials with the Clemson University Department of Plant Industry were alerted to the nest after a beekeeper in York County noticed unusually aggressive hornet behavior known as \u201chawking,\u201d during which hornets hover near hives to capture bees.<\/p>\n

The beekeeper reported the activity to DPI, and inspectors used trapping and tracking methods to find the nest.<\/p>\n

York County residents are encouraged to report suspicious hornet activity and allow inspectors to access their property, as DPI expects to be trapping and surveying the county for at least the next year. <\/p>\n

*Report possible sightings in South Carolina here<\/a>* <\/strong><\/p>\n

The first known detection of the yellow-legged hornet in South Carolina happened in November 2023.<\/p>\n

Although these hornets do not pose any greater risk to humans than other hornets, they threaten the U.S. beekeeping industry.<\/p>\n

“Yellow-legged hornets are a principal pest of honey bees, having caused increased colony losses in western Europe since their detection in 2004. Their establishment and spread in the U.S. is alarming for beekeepers, who are already reeling from a year in which the nation\u2019s colony loss rate was greater than 60 percent,” according to DPI.<\/p>\n

Yellow-legged hornets, which are native to Southeast Asia, build paper nests high in trees or sometimes on man-made structures.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"yellow-legged<\/p>\n

\n\t\tGeorgia Department of Agriculture\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Yellow-legged hornet nest found in York County, first sighting outside Lowcountry 644. IN TIME FOR NEWS TO GO,…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":459181,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[8775,12999,209800,209801,15654,209797,209807,209809,209798,209805,209799,167222,209802,209804,209808,209810,47550,17878,73117,50043,519,128665,17506,159,3036,67,132,68,837,170639,209803,209806,29891],"class_list":{"0":"post-459180","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-wildlife","8":"tag-bee","9":"tag-beekeeper","10":"tag-beekeepers","11":"tag-beekeeping-industry","12":"tag-charlotte","13":"tag-clemson-university-department-of-plant-industry","14":"tag-clemson-university-dpi","15":"tag-colony-loss","16":"tag-dpi","17":"tag-first-detection","18":"tag-fort-mill","19":"tag-hawking","20":"tag-honey-bees","21":"tag-hornet-hover","22":"tag-inspector","23":"tag-invasive-hornet","24":"tag-lowcountry","25":"tag-nc","26":"tag-nest","27":"tag-next-year","28":"tag-north-carolina","29":"tag-rock-hill","30":"tag-sc","31":"tag-science","32":"tag-south-carolina","33":"tag-united-states","34":"tag-unitedstates","35":"tag-us","36":"tag-wildlife","37":"tag-wyff","38":"tag-yellow-legged-hornet","39":"tag-yellow-legged-hornet-nest","40":"tag-york-county"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":"Validation failed: Text character limit of 500 exceeded"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/459180","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=459180"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/459180\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/459181"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=459180"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=459180"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=459180"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}