First published: 27 August 2025 -
Last updated: 7 September 2026 -
Verified by our Editorial Panel
How to identify and report sightings of the Yellow-Legged Hornet in Wales
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Image: Courtesy The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Crown Copyright.
What is the Yellow-Legged Hornet (Asian Hornet)?
The yellow-legged hornet (Vespa velutina nigrithorax), also called the Asian hornet, is a type of insect that is not native to the UK.
It comes from Asia and was first seen in France in 2004. Since then, it has been found in many European countries like Spain, Belgium, Portugal, Italy, Switzerland and Germany. Since 2016, it has been sighted in England and action has been taken to find and destroy its nests.
This hornet is bad news. It eats honeybees and other insects that help flowers grow and crops produce food. That’s why we need to stop it from establishing in Wales.
Why should we care in Wales?
In January 2026, a dead yellow-legged hornet’s nest was found in Caergwrle, near Wrexham. This was the first confirmed finding in Wales. Although, in recent years, it has been found just across the border in places like Shropshire and Cheshire.
The National Bee Unit, part of the Animal and Plant Health Agency, will take action to control this invasive insect but we need your help to report it. If we don’t spot it early, it could spread quickly and be hard to get rid of.
Wales has lots of countryside and few people in some areas, so we really need everyone to help by keeping an eye out.
How to identify a Yellow-Legged Hornet
These hornets are active from February to November, but you’re most likely to see them from July onwards.
Yellow-Legged Hornets like:
Flowering plants (especially ivy in autumn)
Beehives
Rotting fruit like fallen apples
They are not usually aggressive, but they can sting if they feel their nest is in danger. So never go near a nest.
Some of our native insects look similar to Yellow-Legged Hornet, so it’s important to learn how to tell them apart. Find out how to identify Yellow-Legged Hornet and tell them apart from European Hornets.
How to report a sighting of a Yellow-Legged Hornet
The online form on the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology website.
Make sure to include a photo and the location of your sighting.
Let’s work together
We need your help to protect bees and nature in Wales. By learning what the yellow-legged hornet looks like and reporting any sightings, you’re helping stop this invasive insect from spreading.
Find out more on the Welsh Government website.
