What to do if you see an Asian hornet – as father and son die from stings
Environmentalists and beekeepers are raising alarm after an “unprecedented” increase in hornet sightings in Asia this summer.
Invasive species native to south-east Asia now pose a “significant threat” to the UK’s native honeybees, experts have warned.
Single bugs and nests are increasingly being recorded in the southern counties of England. Latest figures show 429 credible sightings and 112 nests had been reported by the National Bee Unit (NBU) in the UK as of 11 September.
The public has been urged to be vigilant after an Asian hornet was found for the first time in Northern Ireland and two nests were found and destroyed in the Cork area earlier this summer.
Outside the UK, an American teacher and her teenage son were killed by a swarm of hundreds of hornets during a ziplining holiday in Laos.
A source close to two US diplomats in Laos said hundreds of hornets, believed to be Asian giant hornets, attacked the couple as they tried to climb down from the tree. Times.
Here’s everything you need to know about Asian hornets and what to do when you spot hornets.
What is the Asian hornet?
These insects, also known as yellow-legged wasps, have caused concern for beekeepers in the UK as they prey on a wide range of insects, including honeybees. Areas where Asian hornet nests are concentrated pose a risk to the surrounding region in terms of insect diversity. They also pose a health risk to people who are allergic to wasp or wasp stings.
These hornets tend to be much smaller than those found in Europe. European hornets are between 30 and 35 mm in length, while Asian hornets tend to be 25 mm in length. Their bellies are mostly black, except for the fourth abdominal region, which has a yellow band. They also have yellow legs and an orange face.
Their nests are usually found high in trees or man-made structures. In addition to hunting honeybees and other insects, hornets also feed on fruits and flowers.
How did Hornets come to England?
Asian hornets are believed to have first arrived in France by chance in a cargo of pottery from China in 2004. They have since spread rapidly across Europe and have been seen in 15 different countries.
They were first spotted in the United Kingdom in the town of Tetbury, Gloucestershire, in 2016. After 10 days of intense searching, a nest was found and destroyed.
According to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), the UK has since confirmed a total of 147 yellow-legged hornet sightings; Among these are 110 nests that were completely destroyed.
DEFRA added that there were only two confirmed sightings of the yellow-legged hornet in 2025, according to a report dated March 27.
What should I do if I see a wasp?
DEFRA has asked citizens who think they have spotted an Asian hornet to report it to the UK Center for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEAH). People can send photos of the insect and the exact location where it was spotted using a form on the UKCEAH website.
There is also an Asian Hornet Watch app where people can report any “situations of concern” to the government’s National Bee Unit.
The UK Non-Native Species Secretariat has warned people not to disturb an active nest as they could be injured.
