Report sightings of Yellow-Legged Asian Hornet

[smallblueplanet]

Invasive species can be a real problem for all of us not just beekeepers and gardeners. The danger to our bees is something to be very concerned about, and it may be that conditions for these 'alien' yellow-legged hornets will be more acceptable for them with the changes happening in our (local) climate. There are currently lots of posts on social media about sightings in Kent. I think that as it's nest building time we should all be aware of the possibility of these hornets nesting in our gardens.

We (here in Wiltshire) often get fly-overs in the garden by European hornets, they are less aggressive than wasps apparently, but of course are BIG in comparison and that's what seems more scary I think. Sometime we get them building, or attempting to build, nests in our empty nest boxes. I normally spot them in time and squirt out the nest with the hose. They do keep trying to return to the box for some time, so I take those down. I get more worried when I hear and then see them buzzing around the house eaves, we've had tree bees in our loft but I don't fancy European hornets.

So these yellow-legged hornets are very different things and we need to keep an eye out for them and if we see them provide the data to be used to track their spread. But make sure you ID them accurately, and don't go killing other things because they scare you. #KeepEmPeeled

[mothhawk]

Social media is a pain in the a***!

There has been 1 (ONE) laboratory confirmed sighting in Kent - single specimen captured, and 1 (ONE) ditto in Oswestry.

[smallblueplanet]

Social media is a pain in the a***!

There has been 1 (ONE) laboratory confirmed sighting in Kent - single specimen captured, and 1 (ONE) ditto in Oswestry.

Well British Beekeepers organisation seem perturbed, and data is always useful.

[Peanut]

I have downloaded the app just in case, thanks smallblueplanet

[Nicos]

More than happy with the uk alert SBP…they are nasty, and way more aggressive than the European hornets.

[mothhawk]

That's the 2024 map, SBP.

Here's 2025 so far.

[Snoop Puss]

Early days yet, I guess, Mothhawk. Fingers crossed they don't spread much further.

Useful info, SBP, and well worth being aware of what they look like, rather than taking fright at the first big wasp, especially scoliid wasps, which I love but which one of our neighbours is convinced will kill her as soon as look at her.

[smallblueplanet]

That's the 2024 map, SBP.

Here's 2025 so far.

I think bee-keepers and gardeners need to be vigilant. It's difficult to know the size of the problem, which could easily get out of hand if ignored, without accurate data.

Seems to me the only way to get accurate data is to make people aware of the potential issue when they are outdoors in areas where nests might be made or hornets frequent. Data can then be collected - they want pictures taken to verify sightings - and the issues assessed.

[Nicos]

In France, once they got a foothold it became more of a damage limitation situation.
When they first appeared the local authorities paid for the destruction of nests.
Now that there are so many, the owners of the property have to contribute ….which means that many people don’t bother reporting them….so there’s no chance of irradicating them.

Apart from blossom time, we hardly see any bees anymore, very few wasps, and less European hornets.
Asian hornets are in their element here around orchards at harvesting time , literally crawling drunkenly on the ground.

They really are something to be hyper vigilant about spotting now in the UK, particularly as I understand that bee numbers have dramatically dropped
In recent years?

European hornets are indeed much bigger …scary compared with wasps, but much more placid. They just need respect…they’ll hovver around you eyeing you up then happily fly away so long as you stand still and don’t pose a thread by flapping.

I wouldn’t trust an Asian hornet…apparently if you injure one, their ‘mates’ have been known to come and defend it . There are dozens of people a year killed in that way over here.
They also nest in shrubs and hedges ( you don’t often see that mentioned…but they most certainly do ) thereby much more accessible to being accidentally disturbed.

Good thread SBP…people do need to be very much aware so as to prevent them from getting a foothold in the UK.

[smallblueplanet]

The thing with social media and cookies is you feel like you're being 'followed'! Just had this pop up on my FaceBook feed:

https://www.bbka.org.uk/Handlers/Dow...0-f564791cc997

"The Asian hornet The Asian hornet, a.k.a. the yellow-legged hornet (Vespa velutina nigrithorax), is an invasive, non-native hornet that predates on invertebrates. The species was accidentally introduced into France, from Asia, in 2004 and has now spread into Spain, Majorca, Portugal, Italy, Belgium, Germany and Switzerland. The hornet was found for the first time in the UK in September 2016, with a single nest discovered.

A small number of nests were discovered and destroyed in each of the subsequent years, however, in 2023, 72 nests were found. There is a high risk of this species becoming established in the UK, and it will take intensive effort to limit the speed of spread. To this end, widespread monitoring is crucial and we strongly encourage beekeepers and members of the public to monitor for the presence of foraging Asian hornets in their area and report suspected sightings."

https://www.nonnativespecies.org/ass...rnet_5.0-1.pdf