The Asian hornet or yellow-legged hornet, Vespa velutina nigrithorax, an invasive species, was found in England for the first time in 2016 with confirmed sightings every year since; nests were found in Portsmouth and Ascot in 2021 and in Essex in 2022, and numerous nests were found in Kent, Dorset, Devon and East Sussex in 2023.

The yellow-legged hornet is smaller than our own native European hornet Vespa crabro and can be recognised by its distinctive black, velvety thorax and yellow legs.

There were forty-five confirmed sightings of the yellow-legged hornet in 2024, a number which suggests that destroying the nests whenever a sighting is reported has hindered overwintering in the UK and it is likely that many of the sightings each year are of yellow-legged hornets newly arrived in the UK, probably after crossing the English Channel from France. Nests are destroyed by staff from the National Bee Unit, part of the government Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). For nests to be found and destroyed relies on quick and accurate identification and reports from members of the public.

What does it look like? What should you do if you spot one? Find out here.

The Asian Hornet Watch smartphone app (announced in this article on GOV.UK) was launched to help everyone identify the Asian hornet and report sightings. It is available free of charge from the Apple and Android app stores.

Links to Asian-hornet-related articles around the Web (more will be added from time to time)

The BBKA's page on the Asian hornet: https://www.bbka.org.uk/Listing/Category/asian-hornet-vespa-velutina

a blog which is a good summary: https://chiswickcalendar.co.uk/a-bit-of-a-hornets-nest/

BBC: The bees learning to fight off invasive hornets

DEFRA's news of confirmed sightings: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/asian-hornet-uk-sightings/asian-hornet-sightings-recorded-since-2016#confirmed-sightings-1