Killer Asian hornets warning to Brits as nest noticed at new well-liked UK web site
As the dangerous killer Asian hornet appears to settle itself in the UK, warnings have been given to millions of Brits as the fiery insect threatens to decimate our insect population
Asian hornets are slowly starting to spread around the UK(Image: Getty Images)
Brits have been told to “be vigilant” after killer Asian hornets were spotted in a new UK site. It comes as the Environment Agency does everything it can to stop the dangerous insect invading Britain.
Asian hornets are a perilous invasive species and have the potential to kill off local bee populations, which are incredibly important for our food production. It also could wipe out an entire species from the UK, having already caused chaos across Europe.
Now, animal conservationists are now being urged to be aware of any potential sightings of the huge insect. Those who spot hornets are now being told to get in touch with the authorities as quickly as possible so they can be neutralised and removed.
According to the Sun, Asian hornets were first spotted in the UK ten years ago, much to the dismay of farmers and environmentalists alike due to their domination of other species. Some estimates believe that one hornet could feast on as many as 50 honeybees every single day.
Figures from 2025 found there were 544 different sightings of Asian hornets that could be verified. A total of 161 nests were found and destroyed as soon as they were identified.
But now, after being confined to England, concerns have been raised once again after a nest was found in Wales for the first time. Luckily, the nest found was dead and did not need to be forcibly destroyed; however, it worryingly points to the insect’s fast spread across the country.
And with the vermin expected to come out of hibernation around February, Brits across the UK have been urged to “be vigilant” in case they see any rogue hornets flying around. They may be slow to emerge, but their high-point will come from July until November.
Asian hornets are not particularly dangerous to humans than any other bee, but can sting if provoked and, like wasps, they can sting several times without dying. However, while humans are not the main prey for hornets, they pose a major problem to bees.
Anyone in the UK who may see a hornet or a nest in the coming weeks is now being urged to report their sightings to a dedicated Asian Hornet Watch app. This will help to track where the bee killers are spreading to and help experts find out where their nests are in order to destroy them.
While hornets are considered the largest of similar insects such as bees and wasps, Asian hornets are distinctly different to other hornet subspecies. They can easily be identified by their legs, which are black at the top and yellow on the bottom.
Speaking to the media, Wales’ Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies said: “The National Bee Unit has years of experience tracking and locating yellow-legged hornets so their expertise will be invaluable in helping us take action against the insect in Wales. I’d like to thank beekeepers and members of the public who I know remain alert and continue to report suspected sightings.
“We need everyone to become familiar with what yellow-legged hornets look like,” he added. “As the weather warms up in the spring and especially on into the summer, please continue to be vigilant.”
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