If you think you have seen an Asian Hornet then:
- Take several photos
- Send the photos on the Asian Hornet App
- email the photo to dorchweybkaweb@gmail.com
- ring 077 406 47 945.
We must be on the lookout for this invasive predator of honey bees. Control will depend to a large extent on early identification and destruction of nests. Being able to identify the Asian Hornet, and particularly being able to distinguish it from the native European Hornet which is not a serious predator of honey bees, will be key factors in control.
Information is still coming in on the best way to deal with the Asian Hornet, so at the moment we can only advise members to be vigilant around their apiaries, use Monitoring traps with discretion, report any sightings [see below] and most importantly sign up with BeeBase and keep checking for the latest information.
The body is almost completely dark brown or black, with a distinctive yellow band on the 4th segment of the abdomen, and the lower legs are yellow.
Note the Asian Hornets have been marked by DEFRA staff.
There is an excellent ‘Asian Hornet Watch’ app available to download from the Apple and Android app stores which can be used for identification and reporting.
You can report also report sightings by email to alertnonnative@ceh.ac.uk with a photo or on the Non-native Species Secretariat website.
Details on the appearance of an Asian hornet can be found on Asian Hornet Action site or the non-native species identification guide.
The Great Britain Non-native Species Secretariat is a joint venture between Defra, the Scottish Government and the Welsh Government to tackle the threat of invasive species. More information can be found on their website.
