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Asian Hornets - Why are Beekeepers Worried? Are UK Honeybees in Danger? What's Going On?

I don’t aim to bombard you with information in this blog, as I think too much can create confusion, which won’t help. I’m going to assume that members of the general public will be reading this more than beekeepers, so this blog will just provide an overview of the current situation while giving some bite-sized context. Links to sites with more details will be provided at the end, which you can refer to at your leisure. So, What’s Going On?

Good first question. Well, generally speaking, the UK climate is getting a bit warmer (especially down south), and increased human activity from trade and travel on a global level is making animals and insects move about more. We’re seeing different animal species appear here in the UK, and the same thing is happening with insects too - it’s been going on for a while.

The Asian hornet, a non-native species, is nipping over the Channel more frequently as it’s finding that the warming climate here in the UK is just as cosy and habitable as its other bases in Europe. I found a video from a 2025 BBC news update which you may like to watch:


Asian Hornets: What Is This Damn Bug, and How Does It Differ from Our Native Hornet?

The Asian hornet (Vespa velutina) originated in East Asia and was accidentally introduced to Europe through a pottery shipment to France in 2004. This accident started its spread. (Source: RSPB)

Physically, Asian hornets are slightly smaller than our native European hornet (Vespa crabro). Workers measure approximately 25mm in length, while queens can reach 30mm. Their most distinctive feature is their primarily dark body with a single yellow-orange band on the fourth abdominal segment. Additionally, they have yellow-tipped legs (hence their "yellow-legged" nickname), an orange face, and dark brown eyes. Here is a comparative image.

Asian hornet compared with European hornet

In contrast, our native European hornet is noticeably larger, with workers reaching 30mm and queens growing up to 35mm. They display much more yellow coloration overall, with a reddish-brown thorax and an abdomen featuring prominent yellow and black stripes. Unlike their Asian cousins, European hornets have entirely brown legs and a head that appears yellow from the front but reddish when viewed from above.

The differences become clearer when you consider their behaviour. Asian hornets will hawk outside beehives, hovering while waiting to catch returning foragers. Our native European hornet does fly about at night (you’ll often see it bopping about near lit up areas), but the Asian Hornet is a 'diurnal' insect, meaning they only fly during the daytime.

Hazard symbol in the Jem's Bees brand colours

For identification purposes, remember this simple distinction: Asian Hornets appear predominantly dark with yellow leg tips and a single yellow band. They fly during the daytime.

What Threat Do They Bring? Are UK Honeybees in Danger? Why Should We Care?

They bring threats, yes, and honeybees are in danger. The threat comes from the fact that these non-native predators dine on all sorts of pollinators, but honeybees are a favourite food. A single Asian hornet can kill dozens of bees a day using its powerful mandibles. They also have a nasty sting. So as they bring a threat to all pollinators, it’s a threat to the UK’s pollination system, which in turn affects everything upwards, such as our food chain.

For beekeepers, these statistics translate into significant losses. In France, beekeepers report losing between 5-80% of their honeybee colonies (averaging 30%) in areas where Asian hornets have become established. Some regions in France have experienced complete hive losses, especially as the hornets target already weakened colonies. Furthermore, Asian hornets don't just kill bees - their presence fundamentally alters the bees’ behaviour. When hornets hover outside hives, bees become stressed and too frightened to leave and forage, leading to diminished food stores and eventual colony collapse.

Beyond honeybees, Asian hornets threaten the broader ecosystem. Recent studies reveal they prey on at least 43 different flower-visiting insects, including common bumblebee species and other essential pollinators. The hornets don't even need to kill the bees to cause harm - their presence alone significantly reduces flower visits by bumblebees and other pollinators. Without sufficient pollinators, we face reduced crop yields, decreased biodiversity, and disrupted food chains, ultimately affecting food security for humans and wildlife alike.

Given these facts, it's not merely a beekeeper's problem. Asian hornets pose a major threat to wildlife and biodiversity.



What Can Beekeepers Do?

We can learn from the knowledge and experiences of beekeeping communities in countries already dealing with the Asian hornet. They have adapted to cope with the presence of the Asian hornet by using a multi-faceted approach to mitigate risks. It’s an approach that combines vigilance, early detection, and physical protection like traps and guards.

For proactive protection, beekeepers already have several defensive strategies on the marketplace that they can call on. Entrance muzzles on hives can provide bees with protection without restricting their need to leave the hive to forage. These muzzles have a lyre type of square mesh structure with openings of 10-25mm, allowing bees to continue foraging while deterring hornets. Additionally, hive entrance reducers that narrow the hive entrance opening to 5.5mm effectively prevent hornets from entering the hive.

Monitoring for hornet presence around apiaries is becoming an important aspect of beekeeping husbandry and management. Setting up bait stations using commercial attractants like Trappit or homemade options such as pressed apple juice, fermented honey, or wax cappings can help detect hornets. These monitoring stations are then checked regularly to prevent harming non-target species.

Further protective measures that beekeepers can take include:

  • Letting tall grass grow in front of hives to disrupt Asian hornet hawking behaviour

  • Grouping hives to spread predation pressure

  • Using solid floors or insert boards on open mesh floors

  • Avoiding activities that increase colony scent, such as leaving hives open or extracting honey nearby

As I write this blog post, I can say that apart from looking at a dead Asian hornet through a resin block, I am happy to say that I am yet to see a live one here in East Anglia.

My apiary is structured with strong honey-producing colonies, supported by a separate station of nucs and small hives that serve as resource providers. I would be particularly concerned for these smaller colonies if the Asian hornet were to arrive, as I fear it would target them first, much like wasps tend to do. However, I have Asian hornet traps positioned at both ends of the apiary. I keep my hives grouped together and closely monitor their strength. No colony is allowed to weaken in isolation, and I maintain tight control over entrance sizes to support their defence.


GardApis Sentinel Asian hornet trap
Gard’Apis Sentinel Asian Hornet Trap

The Asian hornet trap I use at the moment is called GardApis Sentinel, and it is basically a drum with various holes in it. The holes are carefully sized so that by catch can fly out if they’re lured in, but Asian hornets cannot fly out. You bait the trap with a suitably tasty lure, and then if the hornets arrive, it gives you as a beekeeper a chance to report the hornet. A designated team can then come out, track its nest, and then destroy it.

Ultimately, finding and destroying Asian hornet nests remains the most effective control method that I am aware of. Through community collaboration and coordination with authorities, beekeepers can significantly mitigate the impact of these invasive predators. By implementing these practices alongside other beekeepers in the area, we can create a stronger defence network against this growing threat.

Being able to adapt is part and parcel of beekeeping and indeed any farming endeavour if you think about it. I take solace from the fact that other countries have adapted, and I have faith that we can adapt as this predator becomes more prevalent here in the UK.

Can the General Public Do Anything to Help?

Yes! First, try to understand what the Asian hornet looks like, and more importantly, how it differs from our native European hornet.



What Should We Do If We See One?

If you spot what you believe is an Asian hornet, please report it immediately, as it's a non-native species. Try to take a photo if possible and note your location. Here are the official reporting channels:

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