Asian Hornet (Vespa velutina)

The Asian hornet, also known as the yellow-legged hornet, was first identified in the UK in 2016 and since then, there has been a total of 145 official laboratory confirmed sightings, with 45 confirmed in 2024. 110 nests have been destroyed. Not currently present in Ireland although one specimen was found dying in 2021 and was kept as a reference specimen. They are most likely to be found in the southern parts of England as they cannot survive the colder weather in the north of the UK.

They are smaller than native hornets. They have a black or brown thorax, legs with yellow tips, an abdomen that is almost entirely black with fine yellow stripes and a yellow/orange 4th segment near the base, and an orange head (seen from the front).

Asian hornets threaten native biodiversity through predation on key pollinator species as well as honeybees and other insects. They are most likely to be seen near bee hives, in trees, or on man-made structures. 

• If you suspect a specimen is an Asian hornet, it needs to be reported immediately so that quick and effective action can be taken to eradicate them. The best way to do this is via the ‘Asian Hornet Watch’ mobile app or via the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology Asian Hornet Species Alert
• When sending in a sample in for identification, whole dead specimens are preferred. Please ensure the sample is as fresh as possible. Samples can be frozen or preserved in absolute ethanol to prevent the degradation of DNA.
• Sample types include: whole dead specimens, cocoons, pupa, or meconium (the waste product of the larvae).
• Please provide as much sample as possible.
• Samples can be taken using a biological sampling kit or using your own containers/resources.