A dramatic increase in Asian hornet nests is raising fears the insect invaders will eventually cause ‘catastrophic’ damage to UK bee populations.

Record numbers of sightings of the predator, which feasts on honey bees, wasps and other insects, are being tracked by the National Bee Unit which is urging people to report a hornet if spotted.

So far in 2023 there have been 32 Asian hornet nests found in 27 locations – far more than in the last six years combined.

So what is an Asian hornet, why is it so feared and perhaps most importantly – how can you recognise one and where do you report it?

What is an Asian hornet?

Native to Asia, their arrival in Europe was first recorded in France in 2004 when a hornet is thought to have arrived in a consignment of pottery from China.

Since then numbers on the continent have grown and as of December 2022, the Asian hornet was declared established in Spain, Belgium, Netherlands, Portugal, Italy, Switzerland, Germany and Jersey. In France alone there are now more than half a million nests annually.

In 2016, the Asian hornet was discovered in the UK for the very first time in Tetbury, Gloucestershire and after 10 days of ‘intensive searching’ says the National Bee Unit, a nest was found and destroyed.

Genetic analysis in January 2023 found no evidence of an established population of Asian hornets with those found most likely to be from the European population having arrived in cargo or possibly even blown across the Channel. But eight months on and numbers are up hugely - raising fears the creature could take hold.

Why is there such concern?

While the hornet poses no greater risk to human health than any other wasp or hornet, it can cause huge damage to bee colonies and other insects.

While 2022 saw just two sightings reported in the entire year – the hornet’s appearance has been recorded almost weekly throughout this summer – the latest nests having been found in Folkestone, Kent on August 30.

Earlier this month a Kent bee keeper filmed a hornet decapitating and eating a wasp in almost seconds.

Simon Spratley, from Shepway Bees described the footage as ‘horrifying’ and said it was an insight into the damage the alien invaders can do if left alone.

Where found, hornet nests are destroyed by experts working for the National Bee Unit in a desperate attempt to protect the UK’s native species from further harm.

People meanwhile are being encouraged to report any sightings, which can increase at this time of year, as the hornets step-up preying on bee colonies until early November in typical ‘hawking behaviour’.

One Asian Hornet alone can kill 60-90 honeybees per day, and dozens will ‘hawk’ a hive at any one time decimating the bees and weakening the hive until it can’t survive.

Hornets too can be attracted to gardens and allotments in early autumn by rotting and fermenting fruit such as apples and plums, which are also attracting the bees and other insects they like to feed on.

While the majority of sightings have so far been within the south – bee keepers further afield are equally worried.

Stewart Maher, Asian Hornet Coordinator for Lincolnshire Beekeepers Association’s said across the country the situation is now ‘perilous.

He explained: “The Asian Hornet is an ecological disaster. The past few years have been a ticking time bomb for bees, with climate change, intensive farming and the decrease in flora and fauna all adding up - but it is beyond devastating that we are now seeing the numbers of Asian Hornet nests increase dramatically in Britain.

“This is an invasive species; our bees do not have any defences against them - but we can protect them. We can be their defence.”

What does an Asian hornet look like?

The Asian hornet is slightly smaller than our native hornet, with adult workers measuring from 25mm in length and queens measuring 30mm.

Their abdomen is mostly black except for the fourth segment on their tummy which will be a yellow or orange coloured band.

Bright yellow tips on its legs – earning it the nickname ‘the yellow legged hornet’ – can also make it easier to identify while its face is orange with two brownish red eyes.

Defra’s Chief Plant and Bee Health Officer Nicola Spence said staff will act when sightings are reported.

She explained: “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.

“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.

“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.”

Reporting a sighting

If you think you see an Asian Hornet or nest, you can do one, or all, of the following:

- take a photo on your phone for identification and report it using the Asian Hornet Watch app, which is available on iOS and Android.

- Report it on line to the National Bee Unit here or call 03003030094.

- You can also contact your local Beekeepers Association, who will most likely have an Asian Hornet Coordinator, who will also be able to offer advice or organise the required response.