Asian Hornets hawking at the entrance to a Honey Bee hive in France © Jean MatthewsSpecies Focus - Asian Yellow-legged Hornet
What is it and where did it come from?
The Asian Yellow-legged Hornet (Vespa velutina), also known as Asian Hornet or Yellow-legged Hornet, is a non-native species which poses a significant threat to Honey Bees and other pollinators.
Its native range is China and the Indian subcontinent. Since its discovery in France in 2004 it has spread rapidly northwards. It was first recorded in the Channel Isles and in England in 2016, and by 2023 seventy two nests had been found in the UK. It is likely to arrive via freight at ports or in vehicles traveling from the Continent. To date most records are in the south and south east of England but there are scattered records in northern England and notably, one recent record in north Wales.
Identification
The Asian Hornet is slightly smaller than the European Hornet (Vespa crabro). It has a dark brown or black velvety body and yellow tipped legs. The abdomen is mostly dark apart from one dark orange-coloured segment. The pattern on the abdomen and the colour of the legs are key to distinguishing between the Asian Hornet and native European Hornets.
It is active from April-November (peak August/September). Within its breeding range, mated queens overwinter singly or in groups, in various natural and man-made well-insulated refuges. Ivy and other plant nectars form an important part of the diet early in the year, but insect prey are favoured for feeding to the larvae.
The Asian Hornet Watch app has photo ID guides for similar-sized species that may be mistaken for Asian Hornets:
Asian Hornet nests
Many wasps and hornets produce two types of nests: primary and secondary nests. The only way to distinguish between them is to observe the insects from a safe distance. Primary nests are built by a lone Asian Hornet queen in spring. The nests are small (5 – 10 cm in diameter) and located in a protected place such as in brambles, a hedgerow, or in a porch or garden shed. Primary nests should only be reported if an Asian Hornet is seen at the nest.
Secondary nests are pear-shaped structures with entrance holes further up the nest. They are large (up to 60 cm wide x 80 cm tall) and may be found high up in trees, or low down in hedges, brambles, or in buildings. If a secondary nest is suspected, it should only be observed from a safe distance (at least 10 metres) using binoculars. You should retreat if any flying hornets or wasps are seen.
Why is the Asian Hornet of concern?
Research from France shows that during the course of a season, a colony can consume over 11kg of insects, including bees, wasps, other pollinators and spiders, with a devastating effect on the local biodiversity. Honey bees are a favourite prey, hence the spread of the Asian Hornet being of particular concern to beekeepers. A single mated Asian Hornet queen can produce several hundred queens in a year. As they have no natural predators in this country, they can rapidly increase in numbers and expand their range.
A dead secondary nest was discovered earlier this year near Wrexham. It is not known whether any queens from this nest have survived the winter, but now is the time when they would be emerging and starting to build primary nests.
Reporting sightings
The National Bee Unit is monitoring the spread of Asian Hornet through the use of traps and monitoring stations. Any confirmed nests are destroyed by trained personnel. Members of the public are encouraged to submit photos of Asian Hornet sightings using the dedicated platforms below so that any necessary action is taken as soon as possible. Sightings of non-target species can be reported as usual via Cofnod.
For more information:
Jean Matthews is a member of Anglesey Beekeepers Association
On the Record
On the Record is our monthly online newsletter. It's full of interesting information about local wildlife recording, including that month's events and what to look out for in our Species Focus feature. Subscribe now to get next month's issue .