Yellow-legged hornets, also known as Asian hornets, have been discovered nesting in Somerset for the first time, the Somerset Beekeepers Association has confirmed. The initial sighting was made by a beekeeper in Ashcott, near Street, last week, prompting an immediate response from the National Bee Unit.
Following the first observation, additional hornets were seen the next day. The National Bee Unit employed both electronic tagging technology and traditional tracking methods to locate the nest of these invasive insects.
On Friday 28 August, the nest was found within a dense bramble patch and plans have been made to destroy it this week, the association said.
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Asian hornets were first detected in the UK in 2016, according to the government’s Animal and Plant Health Agency. In 2017, the National Bee Unit confirmed a sighting at an apiary near Woolacombe in North Devon. Since then, beekeepers across the country have been preparing for a potential wider spread of these hornets.
A government statement at the time noted: “The Asian hornet is smaller than our native hornet and poses no greater risk to human health than a bee. However, they do pose a risk to honey bees.”
These hornets are invasive predators that prey on honeybees, bumblebees, hoverflies and other insects. While generally not aggressive towards humans unless provoked, their stings can be painful and, in rare cases, fatal.
Lynne Ingram, master beekeeper and organiser of the Somerset Beekeepers Association’s yellow-legged hornet teams, said: “This is the first time yellow-legged Asian hornets have ever been found in Somerset, and early reporting made all the difference.
“Because someone took a photo and used the Asian Hornet Watch app, the National Bee Unit, supported by our trained volunteers, was able to act quickly and plan to destroy the nest before new queens emerged.”
She added: “Yellow-legged Asian hornets are highly invasive and can spread quickly.
“We want Somerset to remain a yellow-legged hornet-free zone, and public vigilance is absolutely essential.”
The Somerset Beekeepers Association said a yellow-legged hornet can be identified by its yellow legs, dark body, and a single broad band across the lower abdomen.
Anyone spotting a hornet is urged to take a photo or video, report it immediately via the Asian Hornet Watch app, and avoid disturbing the insect or attempting to locate the nest themselves.
A spokesperson for the association stressed: “Yellow-legged Asian hornets pose a serious threat to honey bees and other pollinators. Early detection is the most effective way to prevent them from becoming established in the UK.
“Somerset Beekeepers Association and the National Bee Unit continue to monitor the area and encourage everyone to stay alert, especially around gardens, allotments, orchards and flowering ivy.”
Research from France highlights the destructive potential of these hornets. According to the Animal and Plant Health Agency, during one season a single nest can consume over 11 kilograms of insects including bees, wasps, other pollinators and spiders. This has a devastating impact on local biodiversity, with yellow-legged hornets having no natural predators and capability to expand rapidly year-on-year. Honeybees make up around 40% of their diet.
Misidentification of these hornets has been a significant issue. The change in common name from Asian hornet to yellow-legged hornet aims to reduce confusion by emphasising their distinctive yellow legs alongside their dark body and a single broad band across the lower abdomen.