Residents of Somerset have been placed on high alert following the first confirmed sighting of Asian hornets in the county this year. This discovery marks the 53rd nest found in England so far.
The end of summer is a critical period in combating this invasive species, as the hornets produce fertile queens that will soon mate and seek sheltered locations to overwinter.
Lynne Ingram, head of Somerset’s Asian Hornet Action Team, expressed concern over the recent sighting and urged continued vigilance. She stated, “It is concerning that they have reached this county and everyone must be vigilant. We really need to find the nests before the mating queens have emerged and gone into hibernation.”
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The warning follows confirmation from the Somerset Beekeepers Association that the yellow-legged hornet, an invasive predator of bumblebees and other insects, has been discovered in Somerset for the first time. A beekeeper in Ashcott, near Street, spotted one of the hornets last week, prompting a response from the National Bee Unit. Additional sightings led to the discovery and destruction of a nest on 28 August in a bramble patch.
Although these hornets are not generally aggressive towards humans unless provoked, their stings can be painful and, in rare cases, potentially fatal. The Somerset Beekeepers Association advises that a yellow-legged hornet can be identified by its distinctive features and recommends that anyone who spots one should take a photo or video and report it immediately via the Asian Hornet Watch app, avoiding disturbance to the hornet or its nest.
Statistics reported by the BBC indicate that in 2023 there have been 53 nests and 167 sightings of Asian hornets in England, a decrease compared to 93 nests and 389 sightings in 2022. Experts believe the species is now established in parts of southern England.
Dan Etheridge of the National Bee Unit attributes the reduction to the effective eradication efforts by the Animal & Plant Health Agency (APHA). He noted, “DNA analysis has shown limited breeding in the UK. The South East, close to the French coast, sees the most hornets. This year we are observing a wider spread, but the occurrences are isolated and consistent with patterns dating back to the first nest in 2016.”
Kate Wilson, head of the National Bee Unit, has encouraged the public to remain vigilant and report any potential sightings through the official Asian Hornet Watch platforms.
A spokesperson for the Somerset Beekeepers Association emphasised the serious threat these hornets pose to honey bees and other pollinators. “Early detection is the most effective way to stop them becoming established in the UK,” they said, adding that monitoring continues, particularly in gardens, allotments, orchards, and areas with flowering ivy, urging the community to stay alert.