Guidance

Laboratory confirmed sightings of yellow-legged hornet (also known as Asian hornet) since 2016

Updated 12 September 2025

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.

Since the beginning of May 2025, there have been a high number of credible sightings of yellow-legged hornets in the UK.

Due to the extensive work in the field and the corresponding laboratory analysis, it is not possible to provide a meaningful figure for the number of confirmed sightings as the information quickly becomes out of date as nests are found. The focus of the contingency action is on finding and destroying nests. Not all of the credible sightings will be linked to nests, so until contingency action has finished, updates will only be provided on the nests found and destroyed.  

There has been a total of 191 confirmed nests of yellow-legged hornet since 2016, all of which were destroyed.

2025: confirmed sightings

Confirmed sightings in September 

• Church Hougham, Kent: 3 September – 2 nests destroyed 
• Runcorn, Cheshire: 3 September – nest destroyed 
• Capel le Ferne, Kent: 2 September – nest destroyed 
• Udimore, East Sussex: 2 September – nest destroyed 
• Adisham, Kent: 2 September – nest destroyed 
• Ospringe, Kent: 1 September – nest destroyed

Confirmed sightings in August 

• Folkestone, Kent: 31 August – nest destroyed 
• Capel le Ferne, Kent: 30 August – nest destroyed 
• Deal, Kent: 29 August – nest destroyed 
• Dover, Kent: 28 August – nest destroyed 
• Ripple, Kent: 28 August – nest destroyed 
• Wingham, Kent: 28 August – nest destroyed 
• Weavering, Kent: 28 August – nest destroyed 
• Four Oaks, East Sussex: 27 August – nest destroyed 
• Cranbrook, Kent: 27 August – nest destroyed 
• Plaxtol, Kent: 27 August – nest destroyed 
• Wittersham, Kent: 27 August – 2 nests destroyed 
• Dover Central, Kent: 17 August – nest destroyed 
• Holmbury St Mary, Dorking, Surrey: 26 August – nest destroyed 
• Ivy Hatch, Kent: 26 August – nest destroyed 
• Thanington, Kent: 26 August - nest destroyed 
• Lenham, Kent: 26 August – nest destroyed 
• Stone Crouch, East Sussex: 22 August – nest destroyed 
• Ashford, Kent: 21 August – nest destroyed 
• Ilford, Greater London: 20 August – nest destroyed 
• Dymchurch, Kent: 19 August – nest destroyed 
• Chilham, Kent: 19 August – nest destroyed 
• Exted, Kent: 15 August – nest destroyed 
• Woodchurch, Kent: 14 August – nest destroyed 
• Cranbrook, Kent: 14 August – nest destroyed  
• Tenterden, Kent: 14 August – nest destroyed  
• Wye, Kent: 14 August – nest destroyed 
• Dover, Kent: 13 August – nest destroyed 
• River, Kent: 12 August – nest destroyed 
• Hempstead, Kent: 12 August – nest destroyed  
• Stodmarsh, Kent: 12 August – nest destroyed 
• Stone Crouch, Wadhurst, East Sussex: 9 August – nest destroyed 
• Harrietsham, Kent: 9 August – nest destroyed 
• Stelling Minnis, Kent: 8 August – nest destroyed 
• Seabrook, Kent: 8 August – nest destroyed 
• Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent: 7 August – nest destroyed 
• Whitstable, Kent: 7 August – 2 nests destroyed 
• Selsted, Kent: 7 August – nest destroyed 
• Betteshanger, Kent: 6 August – nest destroyed 
• Hythe, Kent: 6 August – nest destroyed 
• Wakehurst, West Sussex: 5 August – nest destroyed  
• Hastings, East Sussex: 5 August – nest destroyed 
• Headcorn, Kent: 3 August – nest destroyed 

Confirmed sightings in July 

• Langdon Cliffs, Dover, Kent: 31 July – 2 nests destroyed 
• Sedlescombe, Sussex: 31 July – nest destroyed 
• Hemsted, Kent: 30 July – nest destroyed  
• Broadstairs, Kent: 30 July – nest destroyed  
• Sandgate, Kent: 29 July – 2 nests destroyed 
• Broad Oak, Sussex: 29 July – nest destroyed 
• Church Hougham, Kent: 29 July – nest destroyed 
• Higham, Kent: 29 July – nest destroyed 
• Verwood, Dorset: 25 July – nest destroyed 
• Rochester, Kent: 25 July – nest destroyed 
• Harrietsham, Kent: 24 July – nest destroyed 
• Sissinghurst, Kent: 23 July – nest destroyed 
• Hythe, Folkestone, Kent: 23 July – nest destroyed 
• Udimore, East Sussex: 22 July – nest destroyed  
• Ilford, Greater London: 18 July – nest destroyed 
• Staple, Kent: 17 July – nest destroyed 
• River, Kent: 17 July – nest destroyed 
• Stelling Minnis, Kent: 16 July – nest destroyed 
• Dover, Kent: 15 July – 2 nests destroyed 
• Chelwood gate, East Sussex: 9 July – nest destroyed 
• Selsted, Dover, Kent: 9 July – nest destroyed 
• Chilham, Kent: 4 July – nest destroyed 
• Saltwood, Folkestone, Kent: 4 July – nest destroyed 
• Verwood, Dorset: 1 July – nest destroyed

Confirmed sightings in June

• Walmer, Kent: 25 June – nest destroyed 
• Coolinge, Folkestone, Kent: 23 June – nest destroyed 
• Hawkinge, Kent: 19 June – nest destroyed  
• Kennington, Kent: 12 June – nest destroyed  
• Hythe, Kent: 12 June – nest destroyed  
• Shoreham, West Sussex: 12 June – nest destroyed 
• Ashford, Kent: 10 June – nest destroyed  
• Wye, Kent: 10 June – nest destroyed  
• Snowdown, Kent: 6 June – single hornet captured 
• New Romney, Kent: 3 June – single hornet captured 
• Ewell Minis, Kent: 3 June – single hornet captured 
• Deal, Kent: 6 June – single hornet captured 
• Cherrytree Shaw, East Sussex: 3 June – single hornet captured 
• Sandwich, Kent: 3 June– single hornet captured

Confirmed sightings in May

• Chartham, Kent: 27 May – nest destroyed  
• Canterbury, Kent: 22 May – single hornet captured
• Shepherdswell, Kent: 16 May – single hornet captured
• Hastings, East Sussex: 21 May – single hornet captured
• Barham, Kent: 16 May – single hornet captured
• Chatham, Kent: 16 May – single hornet captured
• Nonington, Kent: 2 May – single hornet captured 
• Broad Oak, Kent: 2 May – single hornet captured 
• Sandwich, Kent: 1 May – single hornet captured

Confirmed sightings in April

• Marchwood, Hampshire: 25 April – single hornet captured
• Folkestone, Kent: 23 April – single hornet captured
• Langley, Kent: 16 April – nest destroyed
• Ramsgate, Kent: 17 April – single hornet captured
• Appledore, East Sussex: 15 April – single hornet captured
• Deal, Kent: 15 April – single hornet captured
• Marchwood, Hampshire: 10 April – single hornet captured

Confirmed sightings in March

• Canterbury, Kent: 20 March – single hornet captured

Confirmed sightings in January

• Oswestry, Shropshire: 24 January – single hornet captured

2024: confirmed sightings

Confirmed sightings in November

• Bexhill on Sea, East Sussex: 12 November – nest destroyed
• South Alkham, Kent: 1 November – nest destroyed
• Udimore, East Sussex: 1 November – nest destroyed

Confirmed sightings in October

• Coldred, Kent: 25 October – nest destroyed
• Great Maxfield, East Sussex: 16 October – nest destroyed

Confirmed sightings in September

• Great Maxfield, East Sussex: 26 September – nest destroyed
• Southampton, Hampshire: 24 September – nest destroyed
• Rye Harbour, East Sussex: 9 September – 2 nests destroyed
• Ardingly, West Sussex: 9 September – nest destroyed
• Lydd, Folkestone & Hythe, Kent: 8 September – 2 nests destroyed
• Dymchurch, Kent: 5 September – nest destroyed
• Baldslow, East Sussex: 3 September – nest destroyed
• Elham, Kent: 3 September – 2 nests destroyed
• Goodnestone, Kent: 3 September – nest destroyed

Confirmed sightings in August

• Temple Ewell, Kent: 30 August – nest destroyed
• Lydden, Kent: 27 August – 2 nests destroyed
• Alkham, Kent: 27 August – nest destroyed
• Ramsgate, Kent: 22 August – nest destroyed
• Great Maxfield, East Sussex: 2 August – nest destroyed

Confirmed sightings in July

• Barham, Kent: 4 July – single hornet captured

Confirmed sightings in June

• Four Oaks, East Sussex: 6 June – single hornet captured
• Martin’s Mill, Kent: 4 June – single hornet captured

Confirmed sightings in May

• Martin’s Mill, Kent: 30 May – single hornet captured
• Four Oaks, East Sussex: 30 May – single hornet captured
• Etchinghill, Kent: 30 May – single hornet captured
• St Margarets Bay, Kent: 24 May – single hornet captured
• Canterbury, Kent: 24 May – nest destroyed
• Four Oaks, East Sussex: 22 May – single hornet captured
• Alkham, Kent: 22 May – single hornet captured
• Four Oaks, East Sussex: 21 May – single hornet captured
• Etchinghill, Kent: 17 May – single hornet captured
• Denton, Kent: 17 May – single hornet captured
• Four Oaks, East Sussex: 13 May – single hornet captured
• Four Oaks, East Sussex: 13 May – single hornet captured
• Lympne, Kent: 10 May – single hornet captured

Confirmed sightings in April

• Four Oaks, East Sussex: 25 April – single hornet captured
• Four Oaks, East Sussex: 24 April – single hornet captured
• Four Oaks, East Sussex: 16 April – single hornet captured

Confirmed sightings in March

• Romford, East London: 27 March – single hornet captured
• Ash, Kent: 11 March – single hornet captured

2023: confirmed sightings

Confirmed sightings in November

• Rye, East Sussex: 15 November – nest destroyed
• Tenterden, Kent: 1 November – nest destroyed

Confirmed sightings in October

• Folkestone, Kent: 27 October – nest destroyed
• Canterbury, Kent: 24 October – nest destroyed
• Dover, Kent: 17 October – nest destroyed
• Folkestone, Kent: 17 October – nest destroyed
• Ashford, Kent: 12 October – nest destroyed
• Deal, Kent: 4 October
• Canterbury, Kent: 4 October – nest destroyed

Confirmed sightings in September

• Southampton, Hampshire: 29 September – nest destroyed
• Dover, Kent: 27 September – nest destroyed
• Oxted, Surrey: 26 September – 2 nests destroyed
• Yarm, North Yorkshire: 25 September – nest destroyed
• Hackney, London: 22 September – nest destroyed
• Eastbourne, East Sussex: 20 September – 2 nests destroyed
• Tenterden, Kent: 18 September – nest destroyed 
• Southampton, Hampshire: 15 September – 2 nests destroyed
• Lower Herne, Kent: 15 September – nest destroyed 
• Deal, Kent: 15 September – nest destroyed
• Hull, Yorkshire: 15 September – 2 nests destroyed
• Hastings, East Sussex: 15 September – nest destroyed
• Folkestone, Kent: 15 September – nest destroyed
• Southend on Sea, Essex: 14 September – nest destroyed
• Dover, Kent: 4 September – 2 nests destroyed
• Dover, Kent: 1 September – nest destroyed
• Folkestone, Kent: 1 September – nest destroyed
• West Downs, Kent: 1 September – nest destroyed

Confirmed sightings in August

• Canterbury, Kent: 26 August – 2 nests destroyed
• Rochester, Kent: 25 August – 2 nests destroyed
• Thamesmead, London: 22 August – nest destroyed
• Maidstone, Kent: 22 August – 2 nests destroyed
• Dover, Kent: 22 August – nest destroyed
• Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent: 21 August – nest destroyed
• Folkestone, Kent: 16 August – 2 nests destroyed
• Maidstone, Kent: 15 August – 2 nests destroyed
• Newhaven, East Sussex: 15 August – nest destroyed
• Deal, Kent: 14 August – nest destroyed
• Folkestone, Kent: 14 August – (2 separate sightings) 4 nests destroyed
• Folkestone, Kent: 11 August – 2 nests destroyed
• Folkestone, Kent: 10 August – 7 nests destroyed
• Folkestone, Kent: 9 August – nest destroyed
• Maidstone, Kent: 7 August – 2 nests destroyed
• Portland, Dorset: 7 August – nest destroyed
• Deal, Kent: 6 August – nest destroyed
• Folkestone, Kent: 4 August – nest destroyed
• Portland, Dorset: 4 August – nest destroyed
• Whitstable, Kent: 3 August – nest destroyed
• Deal, Kent: 2 August – nest destroyed

Confirmed sightings in July

• Plymouth, Devon: 27 July – 2 nests destroyed
• Dover, Kent: 26 July – single hornet captured
• Gravesend, Kent: 24 July – nest destroyed
• Shepherdswell, Kent: 5 July – nest destroyed

Confirmed sightings in June

• Deal, Kent: 28 June – nest destroyed

Confirmed sightings in May

• Canterbury, Kent: 31 May – single hornet captured
• Ashford, Kent: 23 May – single hornet captured

Confirmed sightings in April

• Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland: 11 April – single hornet captured

2022: confirmed sightings

• Rayleigh, Essex: 27 September – nest destroyed on 30 September
• Felixstowe, Suffolk: 29 April – single hornet captured

2021: confirmed sightings

• Portsmouth, Hampshire: 29 October – nest destroyed on 31 October
• Ascot, Berkshire: 8 October – nest destroyed on 11 October

2020: confirmed sightings

• Gosport, Hampshire: 8 September – nest destroyed on 11 September

2019: confirmed sightings

• Christchurch, Dorset: 10 October – nest destroyed
• Christchurch, Dorset: 1 October – nest destroyed
• Ashford, Kent: 9 September – single hornet captured
• Tamworth area, Staffordshire: 2 September – nest destroyed
• New Milton, Hampshire: 3 July – single hornet captured

2018: confirmed sightings

• Dungeness, Kent: 15 October – single hornet captured
• Guildford, Surrey: 28 September – single dead hornet
• Brockenhurst, Hampshire: 26 September – nest destroyed
• New Alresford, Hampshire: 24 September – nest destroyed
• Fowey, Cornwall: 20 September – nest destroyed
• Hull, Yorkshire: 9 September – single dead hornet
• Liskeard, Cornwall: 7 September – single dead hornet
• Fowey, Cornwall: 3 September – nest destroyed
• Bury, Lancashire: 13 April – single hornet sighted with photograph

2017: confirmed sightings

• Woolacombe, Devon: 26 September – nest destroyed

2016: confirmed sightings

• Bath, Somerset: 13 October – single hornet captured
• Lower Langford, Somerset: 30 September – single hornet captured
• Tetbury, Gloucestershire: 19 September – nest destroyed