Yellow-legged hornet, also known as Asian hornet: laboratory confirmed UK sightings
Annual laboratory confirmed UK sightings of the yellow-legged hornet, also known as Asian hornet (Vespa velutina).
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Details
List of sightings of the yellow-legged hornet (Vespa velutina) in the UK which have been confirmed in a laboratory.
You can report sightings of the yellow-legged hornet using the reporting form managed by the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology.
For help identifying yellow-legged hornets, see the Non-Native Species Secretariat’s identification guide.
Updates to this page
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Updated the list of confirmed sightings.
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Updated the page with confirmed nests found and destroyed since May 2025.
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Updated the page with confirmed sightings in June and July 2025.
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Updated the page with confirmed sightings for June 2025.
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Updated the page with confirmed sightings for May and June 2025.
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Added 4 sightings of yellow-legged hornets in May 2025. Removed a sighting of a single hornet in Hythe, Southampton on 17 April 2025, as this sighting was unconfirmed.
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Updated the page with further confirmed sightings for April 2025.
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Updated the page with confirmed sightings for April 2025.
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We've updated the number of yellow-legged hornet sightings with 1 new sighting in January 2025 and 1 in March 2025.
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One confirmed sighting from November 2024 has been added.
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One confirmed sighting from October 2024 has been added. Two confirmed sightings from November 2024 have also been added.
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One confirmed sighting from October 2024 has been added.
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Added 2 new confirmed Asian hornet sightings in September 2024 (Great Maxfield, East Sussex and Southampton, Hampshire)
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Updated confirmed sightings for September 2024.
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One confirmed sighting from August added. 4 confirmed sightings from September added.
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Added confirmed sightings for July and August in UK 2024.
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Added a link to report sightings of the Asian hornet, and added a link to guidance on identifying the Asian hornet.
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Added a confirmed sighting of the Asian hornet in June 2024 (Four Oaks, East Sussex).
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Updated confirmed sightings of Asian hornet in the UK in May and June 2024.
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Updated the number and list of sightings for May 2024.
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May and April sightings added.
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Updated confirmed sightings of Asian hornet in the UK in April 2024.
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Updated confirmed sightings of Asian hornet in the UK in March 2024.
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There has been 1 confirmed sighting of Asian hornet in the UK in 2024. Updated the number and list of sightings.
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Updated list with the latest sightings for November 2023.
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Updated the list and number of sightings, including additions to October 2023 and corrections to August and September 2023.
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Updated the number and list of sightings.
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Updated sighting numbers and details for October 2023.
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Corrected previous reports of September sightings: - Oxted, Surrey: 26 September – 2 nests destroyed - Yarm, North Yorkshire: 25 September – nest destroyed
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Updated the number and list of sightings.
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Updated list with the latest sightings in September.
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Updated with the latest sightings in September.
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Updated list of Asian hornet sightings for 2023.
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Updated list of Asian hornet sightings for 2023.
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Updated list of Asian hornet sightings for 2023.
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Current situation updated.
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There have been 5 confirmed sightings of Asian hornet in the UK in 2023 so far.
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Nest in Rayleigh, Essex destroyed on 30 September.
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Several hornets were captured in Rayleigh, Essex. Confirmed on 27 September 2022.
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A single hornet was captured in Felixstowe, Suffolk on 29 April 2022.
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Nest found in Portsmouth on 29 October and nest destroyed on 31 October.
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Nest in Ascot, Berkshire destroyed on 11 October.
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Added confirmed sighting of the Asian hornet in Ascot, Berkshire.
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Current situation updated.
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Minor change
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Added confirmed sightings of the Asian hornet 2020.
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First published.