Asian hornets – what’s the problem?
The Asian hornet (Vespa velutina) is a non-native and invasive species. They were first spotted in the UK in 2016 having arrived from France, and have now been spotted across southern England.
They prey on our native pollinators, such as bees, wasps, butterflies, moths and spiders, as well as consuming large numbers of honey bees.
Studies have shown that a single Asian hornet nest can consume up to 11kg of insects in a single season. That’s tens of thousands of pollinators lost, impacting trees, plants, flowers and foodcrop production.
If we don’t act to contain this threat, nature and farming will be severely impacted.
WARNING: Asian hornets can be aggressive towards humans. Don’t swat, trap or remove nests yourself.
How to spot an Asian hornet
Distinguishing an invasive Asian hornet from other native species is crucial.
Key features:
They are smaller (about 25mm long) than the UK’s native European hornet but larger than a queen wasp.
The body is predominantly black with a distinctive orange band near the abdomen.
The rear legs are yellow, giving the species its common nickname, ‘yellow-legged hornet’.
The head is dark, with a characteristic yellow or orange face.
How to protect our pollinators
Across the country, organisations are working closely with local communities, farmers and conservation groups, including Asian Hornet Alert, to monitor the Asian hornets and help contain their spread.
Low-impact traps are distributed through partner organisations rather than directly to the public. The selective traps are designed to attract Asian hornets while allowing native insects to escape unharmed. Native pollinators can feed from the trap and then leave freely, helping to minimise impacts on other insects
Landowners are given clear guidance on how to access and use the traps effectively. By collecting consistent data across the landscape, a clearer picture of Asian Hornet activity and population trends can be viewed.
Coordinated monitoring activity since 2016 is widely considered to have contributed to the Asian hornet not establishing itself as a breeding population in the UK.
Ongoing and coordinated monitoring is therefore essential to ensure the threat is contained
How you can help
Everyone can play a role in helping to monitor Asian hornets by reporting sightings.
If you think you’ve seen an Asian hornet, try to take a clear photo from a safe distance.
Report it using the free Asian Hornet Watch App or email alert_nonnative@ceh.ac.uk
Don’t worry if it turns out to be a European hornet. It just adds to the bigger picture.