Have you seen this insect? Yellow-legged hornet (aka Asian hornet

We have been asked to raise awareness and update you on sightings of yellow-legged hornet (also known as Asian hornet) in GB this year. 

So far in 2025 there have been 45 sightings of yellow-legged hornet (YLH). The latest update from the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s National Bee Unit (NBU) from the week ending 27^th June is included below:

The NBU have received six further credible report of YLH’s. This means that currently there has been a total of 45 sightings in 2025.

Kent

Five of these sightings were at different locations in Kent.

• On 19th June, a member of the public found a nest in an upturned water tank in their rear garden in Folkestone. The nest has been destroyed and collected.
• On 23rd June, a YLH was caught by a beekeeper in a trap in Folkestone. The sample has been collected.
• On 23rd June, a member of the public found a YLH in their house, presumed to have flown in through a window in Folkestone. The sample has been collected.
• On 25th June, a pest controller found and destroyed a nest in Dover. Arrangements have been made to collect the nest.

East Sussex

On 23rd June, a YLH was caught by a beekeeper in a trap in Hastings.

All samples have been sent to Fera Science for analysis. Where beekeepers reported individual hornets, they have been asked to set up feed stations so the NBU can check for other hornets in the area and trace these to their nest. More information and details of previous sightings can be found on the website of the National Bee Unit.    

We would be grateful for your support in helping to raise awareness and encourage reporting of any further sightings. 

Any suspected sightings should ideally be reporting via the Asian Hornet Watch app or the online reporting form. Free alert posters and ID sheets are available on request to help with awareness raising. For further details on identification and reporting, please visit the yellow-legged hornet alert page.

Best wishes,

Lucy

GB Non-Native Species Secretariat

GB Non-Native Species Secretariat

Animal & Plant Health Agency (APHA)

Sand Hutton

York

YO41 1LZ

Email: nnss@apha.gov.uk

Web: www.nonnativespecies.org

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