FOLLOWING THE sighting of an Asian hornet in Hampshire, beekeepers and members of the public have been urged to remain vigilant.

The National Bee Unit confirmed the sighting in the Gosport area of Hampshire and monitoring is underway to detect any other Asian hornets in the vicinity or nests.

The Asian hornet is an invasive non-native species indigenous to Southeast Asia which can pose a threat to native wildlife, especially honeybees

It is smaller than our native hornet and poses no greater risk to human health than our native wasps and hornets.

This is the first confirmed UK sighting since October 2019, when two related nests were detected and destroyed near Christchurch, Dorset.

Defra’s Chief Plant and Bee Health Officer Nicola Spence said: “By ensuring we are alerted to possible sightings as early as possible, we can take swift and effective action to stamp out the threat posed by Asian hornets. That’s why we are working at speed to locate and investigate any nests in the area following this confirmed sighting.

“While the Asian hornet poses no greater risk to human health than other wasps or hornets, we recognise the damage they can cause to honey bee colonies and other beneficial insects," she explained.

“Please continue 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.

If you suspect you have seen an Asian hornet you should report this using the iPhone and Android app ‘Asian Hornet Watch’ or by using our online report form. Alternatively, e-mail alertnonnative@ceh.ac.uk.