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Plant Industry

Invasive Species Spotlights

Asian Longhorned Beetle

asian long horned beetle

Report ALB in SC

The Asian longhorned beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis, infestations across the U.S. cause huge economic losses for the nursery and forest industries. Municipalities and homeowners with infested trees may incur major damage as many hosts for ALB are commonly found in urban and suburban areas. Falling trees and branches are a safety hazard as ALB weakens tree structure as the larvae chew large tunnels in the wood. Trees eventually die from this damage.

ALB has killed thousands of trees in 5 states and threatens trees in every state. Once a beetle infests a tree, there is no cure. Our best line of defense against this devastating pest is vigilance. South Carolinians can look at trees in their landscape for signs and symptoms of ALB.

large round exit holes are large enough to fit a pencil

Large round exit holes are large enough to fit a pencil.

Sap oozing down bark

Sap oozing down bark.

Shallow, discolored depressions where females lay eggs

Shallow, discolored depressions where females lay eggs.

Sawdust and/or wood shavings pushed out by larval feeding

Sawdust and/or wood shavings pushed out by larval feeding.

Bradford Pear and Elaeagnus

Bradford pear
elaegnus
Bradford Pear and News Story

Cogongrass

Report Cogongrass in SC

Cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica) is an invasive weed that can choke out even the most hardy native plants. The Asian native grass is a federally regulated noxious invasive weed, and is considered one of the worst weeds in the world. Cogongrass can easily displace native plants that are used by birds, animals and insects for forage and shelter. The weed also poses a threat as a fire hazard. Cogongrass burns very hot and will burn beneficial plants commonly managed with fire. When cogongrass is detected in South Carolina, the Department of Plant Industry assists property owners in determining appropriate eradication methods. DPI monitors all known cogongrass sites to prevent further spread.

Cogongrass grows from a crown and is not a branching grass. It can grow as tall as five feet. You can tell cogongrass apart from other weeds in one of three ways:

cogongrass flowers

Flowers are usually a light maroon color before they open during late April-May, although mowing or chemical treatment may prompt the plant to flower at other times.

cogongrass measurement

Leaves are about 0.5-1.0 inches wide and usually have a conspicuous, offset midrib sometimes white on older plants.

cogongrass rhizomehd

Rhizomes are sharply pointed, segmented, and hard underground stem at its base from which its roots emerge in dense mats. While the sharp rhizome is a great diagnostic characteristic, please DO NOT dig up any suspect grass. One segment of a rhizome can start a new plant.

Related Links

If you experience any accessibility barriers accessing this material, please contact: invasives@clemson.edu 

Spotted Lanternfly

spotted lanternfly

Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is a voracious invasive planthopper that feeds on over 100 plant species including fruit, ornamental, and woody trees. SLF was first detected in the U.S. in 2014 in Pennsylvania and has since spread via human travel in all life stages to several surrounding states including North Carolina. Please keep an eye out for SLF in South Carolina.

Yellow Legged Hornet

yellow legged hornet

Report YLH in SC How to make a YLH Trap How to use reporting tool

Look-Alike Guide

Yellow Legged Hornet Publication

Clemson's Apiculture and Pollinator Program

Apiary Inspection Program

Hornet Herald Newsletter

Situation

In August 2023, the Georgia Department of Agriculture reported that a live yellow legged hornet, Vespa velutina, was collected in Savannah, GA, and the identification was confirmed by specialists at the University of Georgia in Athens and the US Department of Agriculture. This marks the first U.S. detection.

In November 2023, the first yellow-legged hornet was detected in a trap in South Carolina. The first abandoned embryo nest was found in April 2024, and the first secondary nests were found and destroyed in August 2024

Potential Impact

The yellow legged hornet (YLH) is a predatory insect that commonly feeds on other social bees and wasps, including western honey bees. Originally from southeast Asia, the yellow legged hornet was introduced into France in 2004 where it quickly spread across much of western Europe. Subsequently, beekeepers reported colony losses resulting from yellow legged hornet attacks. Establishment of this exotic pest in the US poses a significant threat to our already embattled beekeeping enterprises.

The threat to human health is equivalent to that of other stinging insects/wasps and not heightened because it’s invasive status.

Protecting South Carolina’s Beekeeping Operations

Clemson supports the beekeeping industry statewide through research and extension with its Apiculture and Pollinator Program and provides disease and pest protection through its Apiary Inspection Program, housed within its Regulatory Services unit.

Clemson has developed resources to raise awareness within the beekeeping community about this potential pest and to help beekeepers and the public identify the yellow legged hornet and distinguish it from similar native insects. A thorough discussion of hornet biology and identification is covered in this publication.

The Apiary Inspection Program has developed a public reporting tool and will conduct investigations of plausible reports. Also, the Apiary Inspection Program is placing traps in counties bordering the Savannah area to determine if the hornet is present in South Carolina and monitor for this potential pest. Clemson’s regulatory services will work with federal officials to confirm suspected specimens and respond to active hornet colonies when they are located. In November 2023, the first yellow-legged hornet was detected in a trap in South Carolina. The first abandoned embryo nest was found in April 2024, and the first secondary nests were found and destroyed in August 2024.

Clemson University is asking for public assistance with monitoring for and reporting unusually hornet activity, especially around honey bee hives. Submit photos of suspected hornets using the YLH 123 survey.

More detailed information about yellow legged hornets is provided in this publication. Other questions about hornet biology and management can be directed to the Clemson Apiculture and Pollinator Program.

Identifying the Yellow Legged Hornet vs. European Hornet

Yellow Legged Hornet

Frontal view of a yellow-legged hornet head with shallowly incised clypeus

Frontal view of a yellow-legged hornet head with shallowly incised clypeus. The genae are not pronounced. Image credit: Allan Smith-Pardo, Invasive Hornets, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org.

Dorsal view of a yellow-legged hornet thorax highlighting variable back color and yellow bands which get wider towards the tip

Dorsal view of a yellow-legged hornet thorax highlighting variable back color and yellow bands which get wider towards the tip. Image credit: Allan Smith-Pardo, Invasive Hornets, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org.

European Hornet

Frontal view of a European hornet head showing black band between antennal bases and a shallowly incised clypeus

Frontal view of a European hornet head showing black band between antennal bases and a shallowly incised clypeus. The genae are not pronounced. Image credit: Allan Smith-Pardo, Invasive Hornets, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org.

Lateral view of a European hornet body showing sinuous yellow bands

Lateral view of a European hornet body showing sinuous yellow bands. The genae are not pronounced. Image credit: Allan Smith-Pardo, Invasive Hornets, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org.