Heatwave could fuel invasion of Asian hornets in the UK
As the UK experiences unusually warm weather, populations of invasive Asian hornets are expected to grow rapidly.
The Met Office is predicting that 2026 will be one of the hottest years on record, following an unseasonably warm spring.
But experts warn that heat could trigger increased activity among Asian hornet queens, whose numbers are growing in the south of England.
“What makes 2026 particularly worrying is the acceleration we are now seeing in both sightings and geographic spread,” said Asian hornet expert Luke Newnes.
“We are no longer talking about isolated coastal events. Sightings are occurring much further inland, and many experts believe the focus is now shifting from eradication to long-term management,” he added.
This species of wasp poses a risk to British honeybees as it makes up around a third of their diet, along with moths, flies and other insects.
These insects were once found only in Southeast Asia, but warm temperatures allowed them to thrive in Europe as well.
The insects, which were first seen in England in 2016, managed to survive the first winter in ten years.
Research compiled by horticultural experts Hillarys shows that Asian hornets (vespa velutina) as one of the highest priority invasive pest threats facing UK gardens.
Last year, there were 544 Asian hornet sightings and 161 nests confirmed; this was more than double the previous annual peak.
A single nest can produce about 350 queens before fall, and new queens can disperse as far as 50 miles before hibernating.
Experts warn that eradicating the virus in the UK may no longer be possible.
Mr Newnes said: “The concern with Asian hornets is how quickly their populations can increase once queens are successfully established in the spring. Currently, from April to early June, queens are still operating singly before colonies expand, meaning this is the only realistic opportunity to disrupt nests before numbers increase significantly later in the summer.”
He urged people to “be careful” and report sightings quickly through the Asian hornet app, which allows them to report sightings to the National Hornet Unit, and said they should not try to remove nests themselves as they could be aggressive.
Mr Newnes said: “Homeowners should pay attention to flowering plants, fruit trees and areas where bee activity is high, where wasps often hover while hunting for pollinators.
“If a nest is suspected, it is extremely important to never approach or attempt to remove the nest, as Asian hornets can become aggressive if disturbed. In particular, beekeepers should inspect hive entrances regularly throughout the spring as activity begins to increase.”
