Asian hornet identified in Ascot, monitoring underway
The National Bee Unit has confirmed the sighting of an Asian Hornet in Ascot, Berkshire, with monitoring now underway to detect other Asian hornets in the area. This is the first UK sighting since September 2020 when one Asian hornet nest was identified and destroyed near Gosport, Hampshire.
While the Asian hornet poses no greater risk to human health than other wasps or hornets, they can cause significant damage to honeybee colonies and other beneficial insects.
Association members are encouraged to look out for any Asian hornets and if you think you’ve spotted one, report your sighting through the Asian hornet app or online.
It is important to take care not to approach or disturb a nest; Asian hornets are not generally aggressive towards people but an exception to this is when they perceive a threat to their nest.