More Asian hornets swarming UK this year than ever - see full list of sightings
Record sightings of destructive Asian hornets could have devastating consequences for bees and crop production in the UK for years to come, beekeepers have warned.
So far this year there have been 22 confirmed sightings of the invasive species, which prey on honey bees and can wipe out entire colonies. That's more than the previous six years combined. There were just two confirmed sightings of Asian hornets last year, two in 2021 and one in 2020.
But beekeepers are even more worried about the high number of sightings this year because it is still early in the hornet season, which lasts until autumn. So far this year most of the sightings (13) have been in Kent. But Asian hornets have also been spotted in Devon, Dorset, Northumberland and East Sussex.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) says a record number of nests have been found and destroyed this year - 13 as of mid-August - but beekeepers have warned that just one missed nest could have a major impact on the UK’s eco-system for years to come.
Diane Drinkwater, chair of the British Beekeepers’ Association (BBKA), said: “We are very worried. If we miss one nest this year, then that will create lots of queens that will set up nests next year.
Insect blamed for mystery rise in life-changing illness that alters eye colour“That would devastate bees. In France, they have had losses of between 20% and 40% of bee populations in some areas. But it will also affect other pollinators. If you think Kent is the garden of England, it could devastate crop production.
Take a look below at the full list of confirmed sightings in the UK since 2016:
“Asian hornets are wreaking havoc in Europe and we fear if they get a foothold in the UK our honey bees and many other insects will be decimated here, too. They are the greatest threat to beekeeping since the Varroa mite was discovered more than 30 years ago.”
he varroa mite, a parasite that feeds and lives on honeybees, caused huge losses among bee colonies in the 1990s. A single Asian hornet - described as the “lion of the insect world” - can devour up to 50 honey bees at a time. One hornet nest can contain up to 6,000 workers and 350 queens.
Diane added: “I have been told they have eliminated a couple of hives in Kent. I believe there was a case of a whole colony being wiped out, that is potentially 40,000 to 50,000 bees. They are only interested in the muscly bit of the bee around the thorax. They dissect the bee down the thorax and take that back to the nest to feed larvae.”
More than 1,000 beekeepers across the country are part of elite teams trained to provide emergency support to the National Bee Unit’s (NBU) hornet hunters. Hornet sightings are filtered by the NBU, part of Defra, and teams of bee inspectors deployed to track hornets back to their nests which are then destroyed. But experts are also calling on the public to help root out the pest.
Asian hornets look like large, black wasps with yellow legs, an orange face, and an orange band on the body. They are slightly smaller than native European hornets which are almost entirely yellow.
They were first sighted in the UK at Tetbury, Gloucestershire in September, 2016. Since then, as of August 15, there have been 45 confirmed sightings including a total of 29 nests discovered, all of which were destroyed.
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 confirmed sightings of Asian hornets.
“While the Asian hornet poses no greater risk to human health than other wasps or hornets, they can cause damage to honey bee colonies and other beneficial insects.
Couple survive swarm of 10,000 bees - but left with stings all over their bodies“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.” For guidance on how to report and spot Asian hornets, click here.