‘Bee killer’ Asian hornets spotted in Hampshire: What are they and what to do if you spot one

Beekeepers from Hampshire and the South coast are appealing to the public to be on high alert for ‘bee killer’ Asian hornets after reported sightings of them are increasing.

The Asian hornet (Vepsa veluntina) or Asian predatory wasp, is a non-native and invasive species of hornet that originated in China. 

According to the Asian Hornet Action Team (AHAT), the hornet is believed to have been introduced into Europe accidentally via an import from China to Southern France around 2004. 

The National Bee Unit (NBU) are calling this an ‘epidemic’ and are doing all they can to make sure that the Asian hornet cannot establish themselves in the UK. Beekeepers have said that Asian hornets are a threat to all pollinators, not just the honey bee, and can even be of danger to humans. 

John Lauwerys, Chair of the Hampshire Bee Association (HBA), said: “The problem with the Asian hornet is that they capture other insects, they’ll capture a honey bee for example and basically break it into three parts and take the middle part, the thorax, back to feed their young.

“If there are a large number of Asian hornets, they will completely destroy a bees hive and wipe it out. If they (the Asian hornet) feel threatened they will attack in force; so basically if you come across an Asian hornet nest, make off in the other direction as fast as you can.”

The Asian hornet is very easily identifiable. It has very prominent yellow legs and an orange face, but the most prominent feature is the fact that they are almost completely black with one yellow segment on their abdomen.

It is a little bit smaller than the European hornet that we’re more familiar with, but is again much bigger than a standard wasp or honey bee. 

The HBA and AHAT are encouraging the public to keep alert for Asian Hornets until the end of October which is seasonally when they start to die off.

Hampshire’s Asian hornet coordinator, Alan Baxter, said: “If the public see the Asian hornet it is a reportable pest and they should report it.

“The ideal situation would be that they have their smartphone in which they download an app called the ‘Asian hornet watch’. All you do with that is you see the insect or nest, point your phone towards it and it will take a screenshot so we know exactly where the sighting has taken place.” 

The HBA and NBU are depending enormously on the public to stay on the lookout and are calling on the government to put in the correct measures by next year to help stop the Asian hornet and protect our bees.