Yellow-legged Asian hornets (Vespa velutina nigrithorax) cause significant environmental damage and sightings should be reported to the Non-Native Species Secretariat (NNSS) as soon as you can.
- Asian hornets are most active between April and November (peaking in August/September) and are inactive over the winter.
- If they get established in the UK it is predicted they will have a devastating impact on our insect population and ecosystem.
- A number of sightings have been recorded in the UK since the first was spotted in 2016 and we fear numbers will inevitably increase.
- In Jersey, France and large areas of Western Europe they are stripping the environment bare of insects including managed honeybee colonies.
What can you do?
Monitor for Asian hornets this Autumn! Check out Somerset’s AHAT Coordinator Lynne Ingram’s useful guide.
- Download the Asian hornet app which has photos to assist with identification and can be used to report any sightings:
Asian Hornet Watch app for iPhone
Asian Hornet Watch app for Android
- Or report using an online form.
- If you have connections with local gardening groups, garden centres, wildlife groups and trusts etc, please spread the word.
- The Non Native Species Secretariat provides a series of resources free of charge including posters and identification sheets which you can distribute to others.
- Our suite of ID resources is available to download for use at beekeeper and public events.
If you spot a yellow-legged Asian hornet
Take some photos and/or capture a specimen and send them to the NNSS for identification; if the sighting is positive, the NNSS will trigger further investigations by our bee inspectors.
SBKA’s Asian Hornet Action Team (AHAT) is led by Lynne Ingram. Our AHAT is county-wide comprising of at least one member from each Branch. The full list is below.
Lynne can be contacted on asianhornet@somersetbeekeepers.org.uk