{"id":520745,"date":"2026-03-13T07:37:10","date_gmt":"2026-03-13T07:37:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/520745\/"},"modified":"2026-03-13T07:37:10","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T07:37:10","slug":"4-invasive-pests-that-could-be-damaging-your-home-right-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/520745\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Invasive Pests That Could Be Damaging Your Home Right Now"},"content":{"rendered":"

While native insects\u2014even those we don\u2019t love such as mosquitoes<\/a>, biting flies<\/a>, and ants<\/a> have roles to play in our eco-system, invasive insects are a different story. These are species that have hitchhiked their way to the U.S. on plants, in baggage, and on cargo ships or planes to find a new home here.\n<\/p>\n

The biggest concern is that, if left unchecked, invasive pests can devastate native plants, wildlife, and crops. \u201cInvasive insects often spread in larger numbers than they normally would do because they have no natural competitors, disease, or predators,\u201d says Lewis Bartlett, PhD, assistant professor of entomology and honeybee health at the University of Georgia<\/a>. \u201cThey have none of the usual limitations.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

If you think you\u2019ve seen an invasive pest, do some sleuthing. \u201cWith an invasive pest such as spotted lanternfly, for example, a healthy assumption is that if you see one, there are probably more,\u201d says Chris Hayes, PhD, extension associate professor of structural pest management at North Carolina State University<\/a>. \u201cBe vigilant, inspect the plants in your garden, and report any suspected sightings.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

To help stop the spread of invasives, contact your local university coop county extension service<\/a>, state department of agriculture<\/a>, or the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)<\/a> to report a sighting.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

While invasive pests vary from region to region across the country, here are a few of the most concerning found in the Southeast and what you should do if you see one:\n<\/p>\n

Yellow-Legged Hornet <\/p>\n

Credit: <\/p>\n

Allan Smith-Pardo, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org<\/p>\n

Native to Southeast Asia, the yellow-legged hornet (Vespa velutina), or YLH, is a social wasp species, meaning it builds large nests with up to 6,000 workers. \u201cYellow-legged hornets feed on a variety of insects, including honeybees,\u201d says Anne LeBrun, APHIS Plant Protection Quarantine (PPQ) national policy manager for yellow-legged hornet. \u201cIf allowed to establish in the United States, these invasive pests could threaten populations of domestic and feral honey bees\u2014some of which are already endangered\u2014and other native pollinators. Their presence could also disrupt the pollination of many crops.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

First identified in 2023 in Savannah, Georgia<\/a>, YLH has since spread about to several counties in South Carolina<\/a>. \u201cYLHs are specialist predators that are uniquely able to position themselves outside a hive to intercept returning honeybees,\u201d says Bartlett. \u201cThey also gather nectar and forage on protein, such as roadkill, to feed their larvae. They are of significant concern right now due to the risk of establishment because we have seen how destructive YLH has been in other places, such as Europe and in its non-native ranges in Asia.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

What they look like: <\/p>\n

YLHs are about an inch long. The hornet\u2019s head is mostly black with some front-facing yellow or orange and black eyes. The thorax is mostly solid brown or black, while the abdomen has alternating bands of dark brown\/black and yellow-orange. The legs are brown or black, ending in yellow segments, says LeBrun.\n<\/p>\n

These insects also often may be mistaken for bald-faced hornets or other similarly-appearing species<\/a>, says Bartlett. They can sting (though it\u2019s no worse than the sting of any other wasp), but the danger is that you may encounter them in much larger numbers due to their nest size.\n<\/p>\n

When you\u2019ll see them: <\/p>\n

You\u2019ll likely see YLH in the spring and early summer with peak activity in the afternoon. In February or March, they build their first nest, or embryo nest, which resembles the papery nest of other kind of hornets or yellowjackets. It\u2019s often attached to the eaves of a house or shed. By summer, they abandon the first nest and build a larger secondary nest, usually in a tall tree, says Bartlett.\n<\/p>\n

What to do: <\/p>\n

In early spring, small embryo nests that can be reached from the ground can be treated with sprays as you would any wasp<\/a>. But if you\u2019re allergic to stings, it\u2019s high up in a tree, or it\u2019s a large nest (and these nests can be so big that they fill the back of a pickup truck!), it should be professionally removed, says Bartlett.\n<\/p>\n

Regardless, take a photo and report it to your state\u2019s department of agriculture, says LeBrun. Some states, such as Georgia<\/a> and South Carolina<\/a>, also have YLH websites for reporting.\n<\/p>\n

Spotted Lanternfly <\/p>\n

Credit: <\/p>\n

Getty Images<\/p>\n

Native to Asia, the spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula), or SLF, is a planthopper that feeds on a wide range of plants, including grapevines, hops, stone fruit trees, and hardwood trees. When it feeds, it excretes a sticky, sugary fluid that promotes sooty mold growth that can further damage plants. \u201cThe SLF lays eggs on any hard surface including grills, vehicles, trailers, firewood, outdoor furniture, bikes and toys,\u201d says Melinda Sullivan, APHIS PPQ national policy manager for spotted lanternfly.\n<\/p>\n

First detected in Pennsylvania in 2014 likely from goods shipped from overseas, today 19 states have some degree of infestation, including Maryland, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky in the South, says Sullivan.\n<\/p>\n

While SLFs don\u2019t bite people or pets and won\u2019t harm your house like termites<\/a>, for example, \u201cthe main concern is their long-term impact on native eco-systems and certain industries and crops that could be devastated, such as grapes or hops,\u201d says Hayes.\n<\/p>\n

What they look like: <\/p>\n

The SLF looks different depending on its life stage<\/a>. From late March to September, the nymphs are black with white spots, then they turn red as they develop and grow larger. From June to September, you\u2019ll see the adults, which are about 1-inch-long and \u00bd-inch wide. With large, visually striking wings, adults are easier to spot than other pests, says Sullivan. The forewings have black spots at the front, with a speckled band at the rear. Hind wings are scarlet with black spots at the front and white and black bars at the rear. The abdomen is yellow with black bars.\n<\/p>\n

Newly-laid egg masses, which contain 35 to 50 eggs, first look like a goopy, grayish mass, which then becomes dry and brown, says Hayes. SLFs typically lay the eggs on surfaces such as trees but will also leave behind egg masses on bricks, stones, fences, grills, and vehicles.\n<\/p>\n

When you\u2019ll see them: <\/p>\n

You\u2019ll see a different life stage throughout the year, but the vividly-colored adults are easiest to identify. Both nymphs and adults frequently gather in large numbers when feeding, clustering near the base or in the canopy of a plant, making them more difficult to see them, says Sullivan.\n<\/p>\n

What to do: <\/p>\n

Bottom line? Kill it first, then report it, says Hayes. Chances are, there\u2019s more than one SLF in your garden, so inspect your yard. Learn what plants it feeds on and look for signs of these pests; then contact a professional pest control operator if you need to protect plantings in your garden.\n<\/p>\n

You also should smash and scrape any egg masses<\/a> you find, says Sullivan. In addition, when leaving a quarantined area<\/a>, check yourself, vehicle, and belongings (such as camping equipment or RVs) to ensure you don\u2019t have hitchhikers that you inadvertently transport to a new location. Keep windows closed because they can sneak inside vehicles. Also, take a photo of any suspected SLF in any of its life stages, and send to your state\u2019s department of agriculture<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n

Asian Longhorned Beetle <\/p>\n

Credit: <\/p>\n

Getty Images<\/p>\n

The Asian longhorned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis), or ALB, is a wood-boring insect that attacks and kills hardwood trees<\/a>. \u201cALB like maple trees the most, but it also likes birches, buckeyes, elms, and willows,\u201d says David Gruchot, APHIS PPQ national policy manager for ALB. It will sometimes attack ash, golden raintree, katsura, London planetree, mimosa, mountain ash, and poplar trees, too.\n<\/p>\n

Infested trees do not recover<\/a> and will die. They also often become safety hazards. Branches can drop and trees can fall over, especially during storms, says Gruchot. First found in here in 1996, likely from wood packing materials from Asia, ALB is currently found in South Carolina, as well as in several northern states.\n<\/p>\n

What it looks like: <\/p>\n

In the warmer months, you\u2019ll see the adult insects, which have black and white antennae that are longer than the insect\u2019s body. The shiny black body, about the size of an almond, has white spots. It has six legs and feet that can appear bluish in color, says Gruchot.\n<\/p>\n

When you\u2019ll see them: <\/p>\n

You may see ALBs in the warm weather months, but tree damage is observed year-round. Signs of an infestation include: Round exit holes in tree trunks or branches about the size of a dime or smaller; egg sites that are oval or round wounds chewed into the bark with weeping sap; sawdust-like material, called frass, found on the ground around the tree or on tree branches; and branches or limbs falling from an otherwise healthy-looking tree, says Gruchot.\n<\/p>\n

What you should do: <\/p>\n

Try to get a photograph of the suspected insect. If you can, capture the insect and freeze it inside a durable container to save it for identification. Most importantly, file an online report<\/a> or contact your state\u2019s plant health director<\/a>, says Gruchot.\n<\/p>\n

Emerald Ash Borer <\/p>\n

Credit: <\/p>\n

Getty Images<\/p>\n

Native to Asia, the Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis), or EAB, is a wood-boring beetle that is responsible for the death and decline of tens of millions of ash trees in North America. \u201cEAB lays its eggs in the bark crevices of ash trees. The eggs hatch and the larvae burrow into the tree where they feed,\u201d says Ron Weeks, PHD, APHIS PPA national policy manager for emerald ash borer. APHIS has detected EAB infestations in 37 states and the District of Columbia<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n

EAB was first found in Michigan in 2002. Unfortunately, EAB is difficult to detect early when pest populations are small because damage to the trees will be hidden under the bark, and the tree decline is gradual, says Weeks. The beetle is well-suited to the North American climate and is a good flyer, spreading naturally. People also contribute to its spread by moving EAB-infested firewood, logs, or nursery stock.\n<\/p>\n

What they look like: <\/p>\n

EAB adults are about \u00bd-inch long and are metallic green<\/a> with a coppery-red abdomen. The larvae burrow into the tree and feed on the inner bark and phloem, creating S-shaped markings. They pupate in winter and emerge as adults in spring, leaving D-shaped exit holes, says Weeks.\n<\/p>\n

When you\u2019ll see them: <\/p>\n

Adults may be seen all summer and are most active during the day when the weather is warm and sunny. During storms, they move to protected locations in bark crevices or cling to foliage, says Weeks. You also may see damage such as dead branches at the top of ash trees and vertical cracks in tree bark. Another potential sign is an increase in woodpecker activity<\/a> in the affected tree.\n<\/p>\n

What you should do: <\/p>\n

If you think you\u2019ve spotted an EAB or notice ash tree damage caused by an infestation, complete an report form<\/a>, says Weeks. You also can snap a picture of the insect and damage to ash trees, or place an adult in a container and freeze it or larvae in a container with rubbing alcohol to aid proper identification.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"While native insects\u2014even those we don\u2019t love such as mosquitoes, biting flies, and ants have roles to play…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":520746,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[47],"tags":[192,79],"class_list":["post-520745","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-environment","tag-environment","tag-science"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/520745","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=520745"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/520745\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/520746"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=520745"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=520745"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=520745"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}