Warning issued over invasion of Asian hornets – ‘out of control’ | UK | News
Britain is at a “tipping point” in the fight against deadly and destructive Asian hornets, experts have warned. There has been a sharp increase in the number of netting this year, with one beekeeper stating that invasive species are “out of control”.
Britain is fighting against the invasion and Britons are being warned that the situation is at its worst. Asian hornets can kill up to 50 honeybees a day and are capable of a painful sting. They are much larger than a bumblebee or honeybee and can be recognized by a vibrant orange face. Ian Campbell of the British Beekeepers Association (BBKA) says the UK is at a “turning point” in the fight to stop the spread of hornets. Huge numbers of wasps have flown across the Channel from France, with Cambridgeshire beekeeper Andrew Durham warning that numbers are “out of control” Great Britain News.
Ian said hornet nests can consume more than 11kg of insects a year. Insects can be fatal for people with allergies.
HE he told the Mail: “The record number of nests found this year is worrying. We are very concerned that yellow-legged hornets may become established in the UK.”
“The discovery of nest inbreeding in the last two years is concerning because that’s how establishment begins.”
He said the occupation could have a “serious impact” on Britain’s biodiversity.
Researchers are investigating how the insects became established in Britain.
Professor Nicola Spence, Defra’s chief plant health officer, said: “Yellow-legged hornets cause significant harm to native pollinators, including our much-loved honeybees.
“Our teams have acted quickly to stop the occurrence of yellow-legged hornets in Great Britain since 2016. We continue to monitor the eradication strategy and innovative new technologies such as tracking devices are reducing the time it takes APHA bee inspectors to find nests.
“A total of 161 nests were found and destroyed in 2025, with no strong evidence of an established population.”
Compared to 2024, this is an increase of 700 percent.
Ian says public awareness and good identification and reporting are essential to help control the problem.
Typically, these wasps are most common in late summer in the UK, with the earliest sightings not recorded before mid-March.
So far the hornets have been spotted in the south and south-east of England; Kent was the most affected area due to its proximity to France.
They will probably only sting you if it gets worse, if that happens ask someone to help you get medical attention.
You should also rinse the area immediately with warm soapy water and apply ice, which will help slow the spread of the poison.
