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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Environment
Helena Horton Environment reporter

Asian hornet may have become established in UK, sighting suggests

An Asian hornet
Just one Asian hornet (Vespa velutina) can hunt down and eat 30 to 50 honeybees a day. Photograph: imv/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Asian hornets may have become established in the UK after the earliest-ever sighting of the predatory insect was recorded by the government this month.

This is a dangerous development for Britain’s bee population and could have a knock-on effect on agriculture that needs the pollinators, because once hornets are established it is almost impossible to eliminate them.

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