The Asian Hornet Threat

Understanding the danger to UK pollinators and honey bees

The Invasive Species

What is the Asian Hornet?

The Yellow-Legged Asian Hornet (Vespa velutina nigrithorax) is an invasive predatory insect native to South-East Asia. It was first recorded in Europe in south-west France in 2004, believed to have arrived in a shipment of pottery from China. Since then, it has spread rapidly across France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, and Italy.

In September 2016, the first Asian Hornet was confirmed in the UK at Tetbury in Gloucestershire. Since then, Asian Hornets have repeatedly found their way into the UK through ports. Sightings and nest discoveries continue to fluctuate year to year, and Asian Hornets are on their way to becoming established in the UK.

Unlike the native European Hornet (Vespa crabro), the Asian Hornet is a specialist predator of honey bees and other pollinators. A single nest can contain several thousand workers, and their impact on local bee populations can be devastating.

Asian Hornet photograph

Know the Difference

Identification guide

The Asian Hornet is commonly confused with the native European Hornet and other species. Learn the key differences to report sightings accurately.

Invasive

Asian Hornet

Vespa velutina

  • Dark brown/black thorax and abdomen
  • Distinctive yellow-tipped legs
  • Orange face
  • Single wide orange band on 4th abdominal segment
  • Workers up to 25mm in length
  • Builds large nests high in trees
Native

European Hornet

Vespa crabro

  • Yellow and reddish-brown body
  • Brown legs without yellow tips
  • Yellow face
  • Yellow bands on abdomen
  • Workers up to 35mm — larger than Asian Hornet
  • Nests in hollow trees and sheltered spots
Native

Common Wasp

Vespula vulgaris

  • Bright yellow and black body
  • Yellow legs
  • Yellow face with anchor-shaped mark
  • Distinct alternating black and yellow bands
  • Workers 12–17mm — much smaller
  • Builds nests underground or in cavities

The Danger

The threat to honey bees

Asian Hornets are specialist predators of honey bees, employing a hunting technique known as 'hawking'. They hover at the entrance of bee hives, ambushing returning forager bees in mid-flight. A single Asian Hornet can catch and kill dozens of honey bees in a single day to feed its developing colony.

The sustained predation pressure causes significant stress to bee colonies. Hives under attack reduce their foraging activity, leading to weakened colonies that are more vulnerable to disease and may fail to survive winter. In France, where the Asian Hornet is now widespread, beekeepers report colony losses of up to 30% in heavily affected areas.

Beyond direct predation, Asian Hornets also prey on other pollinating insects including hoverflies, wasps, and butterflies, causing wider ecological disruption.

Beyond the Hive

The wider impact

Beekeeping Industry

The UK has approximately 270,000 managed honey bee colonies. Asian Hornet predation threatens both commercial and hobbyist beekeeping, with potential losses in honey production and pollination services.

Biodiversity & Ecology

Pollinators underpin ecosystem health. Asian Hornets prey on a wide range of pollinating insects beyond honey bees, disrupting food webs and reducing biodiversity across habitats.

Food Security

Around one-third of UK food crops depend on insect pollination. The threat to pollinators from Asian Hornets has direct implications for agricultural productivity and food security.

Tracking the Spread

UK status & timeline

2016

First confirmed Asian Hornet nest found at Tetbury, Gloucestershire — the first known occurrence in the UK.

2017–2022

Sporadic sightings reported across southern England each year, with nests found and destroyed by the National Bee Unit.

2023

72 nests were found in the UK.

2024

24 nests were found in the UK.

2025

163 nests and 544 credible sightings were recorded, mostly clustered in the south around Kent (likely arriving via ports), with additional activity around Hull and Yorkshire (again potentially linked to ports).

2026

A credible sighting was reported on 26/02/26 in Doncaster — very early in the year, indicating potential overwintered queens.

View the live sighting map

Take Action

What can you do?

1

Learn to Identify

Study the identification guide above — know the difference between the Asian Hornet, European Hornet, and common wasps. Accurate identification is the first step.

2

Monitor Your Area

Deploy a BuzzCopper device or set up bait stations to monitor for Asian Hornets in your garden or apiary, particularly from spring through autumn.

3

Report Sightings

If you suspect an Asian Hornet sighting, report it immediately via the official iOS app, Android app, or online reporting form. Include a photograph if possible.

4

Download the App

Use the free Asian Hornet Watch app (available on iOS and Android) to submit sightings with photographs directly to the Non-Native Species Secretariat.

5

Spread Awareness

Share information with fellow beekeepers, gardeners, and neighbours. The more people who can identify Asian Hornets, the faster they can be reported and nests destroyed.

Protect your pollinators — Detect. Alert. Act.

Preorder BuzzCopper View Sighting Map

Useful Links

Official resources