Latest Update
Please see an update on the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s National Bee Unit’s (NBU) work against yellow-legged hornet (YLH), also known as Asian hornet, for the week ending 31st October.
As of 30th October, the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s National Bee Unit (NBU) informed us that they have received further credible reports of YLH’s. This means that currently there has been a total of 530 sightings in 2025.
Since the last update, 2 more nests have been discovered.
Kent
Womenswold
St Margaret’s Bay
As of 30th October, 157 confirmed nests have been found this year.
On 31st October, the enhanced contingency response will be scaled back, however, the NBU will continue to respond to credible sightings that are reported. Going forward, formal updates will be shared by exception if a nest is found rather than on a regular weekly basis.
Addendum
A hornet was located in Crosby, Merseyside yesterday, 1st November
Please help us if you think you’ve spotted a Yellow Legged Asian Hornet
Download the Asian Hornet Watch App on your mobile
and use it to send in the photo
Not got your mobile? Email a photo to :
alertnonnative@ceh.ac.uk
An invasive non-native hornet originally from Asia. Asian hornet is a highly aggressive predator of native insects and poses a significant threat to honey bees and other pollinators. In 2004 it was accidentally introduced to France where it has spread rapidly and into neighbouring countries. Since 2016 a number of sightings have been recorded in the UK.
For more information click here
