What do you do if you find an Asian hornet? 1. Please use the Asian Hornet Watch app on your phone to send a picture and a location via GPS in the app straight to the non-native species secretariat and National Bee Unit. 2. If you cannot download the Asian Hornet Watch app, please use this online recording form If it is safe to do so, you can send in a sample to the National Bee Unit for examination to confirm identity (please note the specimen must be dead before sending it in). However, do not under any circumstances disturb or provoke an active hornets’ nest. For more information visit the Non Native Species Secretariat website.

Vespa velutina, sometimes known as the 'Asian hornet' is an invasive non-native species from Asia. It has recently arrived in France where it is spreading rapidly. As a highly effective predator of insects, including honey bees and other beneficial species, it can cause significant losses to bee colonies, other native species and potentially ecosystems It is expected that the places it is most likely to be found in numbers are in southern parts of England (it may be able to cross the channel from France) or in goods among which it could be accidentally imported (such as soil with imported pot plants, cut flowers, fruit and timber).  Active between April and November (peak August/September). What to look out for Vespa velutina queens are up to 3 cm in length; workers up to 25 mm (slightly smaller than the native European hornet Vespa crabro) Entirely dark brown or black velvety body, bordered with a fine yellow band Only one band on the abdomen: 4th abdom...

At the moment DEFRA is recommending monitoring traps in all areas of the Country where there is no Asian hornet incursion. Once an Asian hornet has been positively identified in an area then kill traps should be used. This is in the expectation that if Asian hornets are in the area then they will be trapped and identified. The by-catch in these traps will be small compared to the damage caused by the Asian hornets if the nests are not found.  Any suspected Asian Hornets should be photographed and the pictures set in via the Asian Hornet Watch app which is available on both android and iPhone. You can also report them via an online form YouTube Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CR6MUekAjMo Download the full PDF  

Vespa velutina, sometimes known as the 'Asian hornet' is an invasive non-native species from Asia. If you find one you MUST report it. It arrived in France in 2004 and has spread rapidly. As a highly effective predator of insects, including honey bees and other beneficial species, it can cause significant losses to bee colonies, other native species and potentially ecosystemsIt is expected that the places it is most likely to be found in numbers are in southern parts of England (it may be able to cross the channel from France) or in goods among which it could be accidentally imported (such as soil with imported pot plants, cut flowers, fruit and timber).  Active between April and November (peak August/September).Is this an Asian Hornet  1 Does it look very black?2.Has it got a wide orange stripe on 4th segment of abdomen? 3.Do its legs look as if they have been dipped in yellow paint? Sound of an Asian Hornet This was recorded in a bathroom at BBKA trustee Bob Hogg...