The yellow-legged hornet (Vespa velutina) is an invasive species originally native to southeast Asia. It has become a growing concern in Europe and the UK due to its impact on native pollinators, especially honeybees.
The contracts department of the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) would like to hear from arb contractors across the UK who would be willing to join a database of companies that can provide tree climbing expertise and equipment to help with the destruction and removal of yellow-legged hornet (YLH) nests from trees or buildings.
APHA staff will lead and manage each site, and a site survey will be provided to establish the requirements for each nest removal. For more details and to join the database, contact Contractmanagement@apha.gov.uk
Habitat and nesting
By the end of October, there had been 530 credible sightings in the UK and 158 nests had been found in Cheshire, Dorset, East and West Sussex, Essex, Greater London, Hampshire, Kent, North Yorkshire and Surrey. The majority were in Kent.
The yellow-legged hornet builds large, rounded nests often high in trees, under building eaves, or in shrubs. Nests are made from chewed wood pulp and saliva, resembling paper. Early nests (March–June) are small, but mature nests can reach up to 1 m in height and contain up to 12,000 cells.
Report sightings
Further information about the hornet is available from the Non-native Species Secretariat website at www.nonnativespecies.org
The secretariat will also provide free alert posters and ID sheets on request – contact nnss@apha.gov.uk.
Sightings should be reported using the free Asian Hornet Watch App (available for Android and iPhone), or via the online notification form at www.bit.ly/4jZHl3u, or by emailing alertnonnative@ceh.ac.uk. A photograph and the location of the sighting must be included.
Yellow-legged hornet nests. (© Crown copyright)
Three yellow-legged hornets (Vespa velutina) around a nest entrance. (© Crown copyright)
This article was taken from Issue 211 Winter 2025 of the ARB Magazine, which is available to view free to members by simply logging in to the website and viewing your profile area.