The UK's Chief Plant Health Officer Nicola Spence is today
(Monday 20 May) urging UK beekeepers and the public to be
increasingly vigilant to the presence of Asian hornet and report
any sightings as we move into the peak summer season.
The Asian hornet is smaller than our native hornet and poses no
greater risk to human health than our native wasps and hornets.
However, they do pose a risk to honey bees and insect
pollinators.
Asian hornets are distinctive and can be identified by their very
dark body, wide orange stripe on the forth abdomen section and
yellow leg ends. They are much larger in size than our native
hornets. Any sightings can be made via the Asian Hornet Watch
App.
The warning comes after 2023 saw a record number of Asian hornets
found in the UK. The Animal and Plant Health Agency's National
Bee Unit attended every credible sighting, locating and
destroying 72 nests in 56 locations with the majority of nests
found in Kent. The National Bee Unit continues to stand ready to
respond quickly and effectively to any further possible
sightings.
The National Bee Unit continues to take action to eradicate the
Asian hornet in the UK, and this spring rolled out trapping in
areas where there was an increased risk that Asian hornet queens
may have overwintered. The traps, which have the means to allow
non-target invertebrates to escape, have been set at locations
across Kent, East Sussex, Devon and North Yorkshire.
Asian hornets are not yet established in the UK. Early trapping
is a key part of our surveillance for this invasive species and
fundamental to our eradication efforts.
Defra's Chief Plant and Bee
Health Officer Nicola Spence said:
“By ensuring we are alerted to possible sightings as early as
possible, the public can help us take swift and effective
action to stamp out the threat posed by Asian hornets.
“While the Asian hornet poses no greater risk to human health
than other wasps or hornets, they can damage honey bee colonies
and harm other pollinators.
“Please continue to be vigilant for any Asian hornets and if you
think you've spotted one, report your sighting through the Asian
hornet app or online.”
If you suspect you have seen an
Asian hornet you should report this using the iPhone and Android
app ‘Asian Hornet Watch' or by using our online report form.
Alternatively, e-mail alertnonnative@ceh.ac.uk.Please
include a photograph if you can safely obtain one.
Identification guides
and more information are available and if you keep bees
you should keep up to date with the latest situation on
the gov.uk sightings
page and
on BeeBase.
It is important to take care not to
approach or disturb a nest. Asian
hornets are not generally aggressive towards people but an
exception to this is when they perceive a threat to their
nest.
This announcement coincides with the start of Chelsea Flower
Show, where Defra is hosting an interactive exhibit highlighting
the spread of Asian hornet and the risks to our honey bees and
wild pollinators with the aim of raising awareness of the Asian
hornet amongst gardeners and the industry.
ENDS
Further
information:
- The Great Britain Non-native Species Secretariat is a joint
venture between Defra, the Scottish Government and the Welsh
Government to tackle the threat of invasive species. More
information can be found on their website.
- For details on the appearance of an Asian hornet, please
refer to the BeeBase guide or
the non-native species identification
guide.
- Photographs of the Asian hornet are available on
our Flickr account.
- The Asian hornet (Vespa velutina) is not to be
confused with the Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia)
which has been found in North America.
