Asian hornets have been spotted in their greatest numbers yet in the UK, which could have a devastating effect on native bees, which they kill, dismember and eat.
There have been 39 Asian hornets and nests seen in the country since the species was first observed in 2016, and this year there have been 16 sightings, data shows.
This is a large increase since 2022, when only two Asian hornets were seen, and in 2021, which also had two sightings.
The vast majority of the sightings were in Kent, where there were 12, with some also seen in Dorset and one hornet captured in Newcastle upon Tyne.
Asian hornets have caused havoc in France, where they have a stronghold, and have decimated honeybee populations. They sit outside honeybee hives and capture bees as they enter and exit. They chop up the smaller insects and feed the thoraxes to their young.
The Asian hornets first came to Europe in 2004 when they were spotted in France, and it is thought they were accidentally transported in cargo from Asia. They rapidly spread across western Europe and have crossed the Channel to Britain, probably also in cargo.
Once they establish permanent populations they are almost impossible to stop, so the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in the UK has launched an eradication campaign, destroying any nests and capturing individuals.
Prof Juliet Osborne, the chair in applied ecology at the University of Exeter, said: “This year has certainly seen quite an increase in the number of Asian hornet nests found in the south-east of England.
“It is no great surprise, because this species is spreading rapidly through Europe and can cause real damage to honeybee colonies as they predate on the bees at the entrance to hives. They also eat a wide range of other insects, so their gradual spread across Europe may well affect other wild species as well as the managed honeybee.
“We have developed a method for radio-tracking the hornets so that they can be followed back to their nest to help with control efforts. We are also working on an automated monitor, using artificial intelligence to detect and identify Asian hornets in the future, making it much easier to monitor their spread.”
Defra’s chief plant and bee health officer, Nicola Spence, said: “By ensuring we are alerted to possible sightings as early as possible, we can take swift and effective action to stamp out the threat posed by Asian hornets. That’s why we are working at speed to locate and investigate any sightings in Folkestone as Asian hornets have been confirmed in the area.
“While the Asian hornet poses no greater risk to human health than other wasps or hornets, they can cause damage to honeybee colonies and other beneficial insects. Please continue to look out for any Asian hornets, and if you think you’ve spotted one, report your sighting through the Asian hornet app or online. Asian hornet nests will be smaller at this time in the year, but we are still asking people to be vigilant.”
Asian hornets are smaller than native hornets and can be identified by their orange faces, yellow-tipped legs and darker abdomens.
2023 Asian hornet sightings
Folkestone, Kent: confirmed 11 August.
Folkestone, Kent: confirmed 10 August.
Maidstone, Kent: confirmed 7 August and nest destroyed.
Portland, Dorset: confirmed 7 August and nest destroyed.
Deal, Kent: confirmed 6 August.
Folkestone, Kent: confirmed 4 August and nest destroyed.
Portland, Dorset: confirmed 4 August and nest destroyed.
Whitstable, Kent: confirmed 3 August and nest destroyed.
Deal, Kent: confirmed 2 August.
Plymouth, Devon: confirmed 27 July and two nests destroyed.
Gravesend, Kent: confirmed 24 July and nest destroyed.
Shepherdswell, Kent: confirmed 5 July and nest destroyed.
Deal, Kent: confirmed 28 June and nest destroyed.
Canterbury, Kent: confirmed 31 May and single hornet captured.
Ashford, Kent: confirmed 23 May and single hornet captured.
Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland: confirmed 11 April and single hornet captured.
