The Asian hornet is a highly effective predator of insects, including honeybees and other beneficial species, which can cause significant losses to bee colonies, and potentially other native species.
The Asian hornet is active mainly between April and November (peak August/September) and is inactive over the winter.
There has been a total of 544 sightings of yellow-legged hornets in 2025. There were 161 confirmed nests in 2025 and 270 since 2016. All were destroyed.
Read more on GOV.UK: Guidance - Asian Hornet UK sightings.
How to report sightings
It is important to report any suspected sightings as soon as possible, so experts can take quick action. Read Species alerts advice from the Great Britain Non-Native Species Secretariat on how to spot and report Asian hornets.