Asian hornets - data from Gov.uk
Read guidance on how to spot and report an Asian hornet from the
Great Britain Non-Native Species Secretariat.
Vespa velutina
Native to: Asia.
Impact: a highly effective predator of insects, including honey bees and other beneficial species, which can cause significant losses to bee colonies, and potentially other native species.
GB status: Asian hornet arrived in France in 2004 where it spread rapidly. A number of sightings have been recorded in the UK since 2016, find the latest information on Defra's Asian hornet news page (external link).
Recording: It is important to report any suspected sightings of this species as soon as possible. Vigilance is particularly required in southern parts of England and Wales and around major ports. Asian hornet is active mainly between April and November (peak August/September) and is inactive over the winter.
Ideally sightings should be sent in via the links below:
You can also email us to report an Asian hornet sighting. Please send a photograph and location details. Do not under any circumstances disturb or provoke an active hornets’ nest.
Useful resources:
Alert poster English (PDF) | Welsh (PDF)
ID sheet: English (PDF) | Welsh (PDF)
Request free hard copies of the ID sheet and alert poster
Nest ID sheet: English (PDF) | English (HTML)
The BeeBase website (external link) has guidance for beekeepers (external link).
Further information on Asian hornet :
