Asian Hornet: How to Identify One and Report a Sighting

The Asian hornet (Vespa velutina) is an invasive predatory wasp that poses a serious threat to honeybees and other pollinators in the UK. If you spot one, the fastest and most effective thing you can do is report it immediately using the free Asian Hornet Watch app, developed by the British Beekeepers' Association (BBKA), or report it online to the GB Non-native Species Secretariat. Quick identification and reporting genuinely help: a single nest can produce thousands of hornets capable of wiping out entire apiaries within a season.

What does an Asian hornet look like?

The Asian hornet is noticeably smaller than our native European hornet (Vespa crabro), with a wingspan of around 3 to 4cm. Key identifying features include:

• A dark brown or black body with a distinctive yellow-tipped fourth abdominal segment
• Yellow or orange legs, often described as looking like they have been "dipped in paint"
• An orange-brown face
• A generally darker, more uniform appearance than the European hornet, which has a yellow and brown banded abdomen and a paler, more russet thorax

If you see a hornet hovering persistently near a beehive, picking off bees as they return from foraging, that behaviour alone is a strong clue. Asian hornets are known as "hawkers" because they hover near hive entrances waiting to ambush bees mid-flight, something rarely seen with native wasps or hornets.

Why is the Asian hornet a threat to British bees?

British honeybees have not evolved defences against this predator in the way that Asian honeybee species have. A hive under sustained attack from hawking hornets can become so stressed that foragers stop leaving to collect nectar and pollen, weakening the colony ahead of winter. In France, where the Asian hornet established itself after arriving in a shipment of pottery from China in 2004, beekeepers have reported colony losses of 30% or more in affected regions. The hornet also preys on other pollinators, including bumblebees and hoverflies, so its impact reaches well beyond managed apiaries into the wider ecosystem that supports wildflowers and crops.

For independent beekeepers already contending with varroa mites, unpredictable weather, and habitat loss, an established Asian hornet population would be a further serious blow to colony health and honey yields.

Where has the Asian hornet been found in the UK?

Since the first confirmed UK sighting in Tetbury, Gloucestershire in 2016, there have been periodic sightings and nest destructions across southern England, particularly in Kent, Devon, and parts of East Sussex, often linked to hornets arriving via freight, vehicles, or occasionally flying across the Channel from established populations in northern France. The situation is actively monitored by the National Bee Unit and DEFRA, and swift public reporting has so far helped prevent the species from becoming permanently established in Britain. That said, experts widely agree that continued vigilance is essential, as a single fertilised queen surviving winter could found a new colony the following spring.

How do you report a sighting?

If you believe you have seen an Asian hornet, do not attempt to approach, swat, or disturb it, and never try to locate or destroy a nest yourself, as nests can contain thousands of hornets and are often high up or well hidden. Instead:

1. Try to take a photograph from a safe distance for identification purposes.
2. Note the location as precisely as you can.
3. Report it using the Asian Hornet Watch app (the official BBKA app, free to download for iOS and Android), which allows you to submit photos and GPS location directly to the National Bee Unit.
4. Alternatively, report online via the GB Non-native Species Secretariat or email alertnonnative@ceh.ac.uk.

Trained inspectors will then verify the sighting and, where a nest is confirmed, arrange for its safe destruction. The app has become an essential tool for beekeepers and the public alike, turning thousands of ordinary sightings into a genuine early-warning network across the country.

What should beekeepers and honey lovers do?

If you keep bees, it is worth familiarising yourself with hawking behaviour at the hive entrance, particularly from late summer into fomnautumn when hornet activity peaks. Simple monitoring traps using a sugar or beer-based bait can help detect activity early in the season, though they should be checked regularly and are not a substitute for professional reporting. Many regional beekeeping associations also run Asian hornet awareness sessions, which are well worth attending if you are near the south coast or any area with previous confirmed sightings.

If you are not a beekeeper yourself but care about where your honey comes from, one of the most meaningful things you can do is support the people doing this work on the ground. Find raw honey from a beekeeper near you and you are directly supporting small-scale, independent producers who monitor their own apiaries closely, often catching problems like Asian hornet activity long before it would be noticed elsewhere.

How can you support British bees and beekeepers?

Buying raw, unheated honey directly from independent beekeepers does more than bring a jar of genuinely seasonal honey to your table. It keeps small apiaries financially viable, which in turn means more eyes on hives, more local knowledge about threats like the Asian hornet, and more resilient bee populations overall. Local Honey works with beekeepers across the country offering raw wildflower honey, rich autumn heather honey, and delicate spring blossom honey, each reflecting the particular flora and conditions of its region. Unlike blended or imported honey, which is often heat-treated and sourced from multiple unknown origins, honey bought directly from a named beekeeper carries a clear story of provenance, something that matters more than ever as pollinators face mounting pressures.

If you would like to understand more about how your local bee populations are faring, or simply want a jar of honey with genuine provenance behind it, browse independent beekeepers near you and ask them directly about what they are seeing in their apiaries this season. Most beekeepers are only too happy to talk about their bees, and many will have useful local knowledge about Asian hornet activity in your area.

Find raw honey from a beekeeper near you

Written with the help of AI for Local Honey, championing pure, raw honey from independent British beekeepers.

This article is for general information and is not medical advice.