Julian Newton

LDBKA Apiary manager, AHAT coordinator and beekeeper.

[BBKA @britishbee]

Camelias are a favourite forage source for yellow-legged Asian hornet queens at this time of year.
Please be vigilant, report any sightings using the Asian Hornet Watch app

[BBKA @britishbee]

APHA & National Bee Unit’s work against yellow-legged Asian hornet, W/E 15 Aug

Total of 217 sightings in 2025

11 more nests discovered.

Kent
Woodchurch
Harrietsham
Stodmarsh
Wye
Cranbrook
River
Walmer
Weavering
Chilham
Dover

East Sussex
Wadhurst

64 confirmed in 2025

[BBKA @britishbee]

Yellow-legged Asian hornet map update 8.8.25
53 Nests
140 sightings

We are now over double the 2024 nest total
We are over 70% of the 2023 nest total already

https://t.co/Zp5dlv2JxT

[BBKA @britishbee]

Update on yellow-legged Asian hornets (YLH) 27 June

6 more reports
Total of 45 sightings

Kent
5 sightings in Kent

19 June - specimen - Folkestone

23 June - specimen - Folkestone

23 June - specimen - Folkestone

25 June - nest - Dover

E Sussex
23 June- specimen - Hastings

[BBKA @britishbee]

This weekend sees temperatures reach 12C for several days.
This can be a trigger for yellow-legged Asian hornet queens to emerge from hibernation.
Please remain vigilant near nest site from 2024, which were mainly in Kent, E & W Sussex and Hampshire
Illustration Sarah Bunker

[BBKA @britishbee]

A reminder of the risks from yellow-legged Asian hornet nests discovered late in the year. In June the NBU released a 'Genetics Update', showing a link between nests found in Oct and Nov and spring queen the next year.
Please remain vigilant

https://t.co/oGoegMW7m4

[BBKA @britishbee]

Last year, 150 Asian hornet nests were discovered in the Hesse region of eastern Germany. The year before, there were 8. This year, the mark of 75 nests has already been reached, and the expert expects the number to double from last year.

https://t.co/3dwfO9REhQ

[BBKA @britishbee]

DEFRA 16.8 24

Following active operations in Lydden, Kent, the NBU located a small Asian hornet nest on Thur 15 Aug. Destruction planned

NBU conducting track and trace activities in Ramsgate, Alkham and Temple Ewell in Kent and
surveillance in Hastings, E Sussex.

[Julian Newton @Beekeeperjools]

Busy weekend at Great Comp garden show talking hornets and honeybees

[Julian Newton @Beekeeperjools]

Asian Hornet awareness at Great Comp garden show

[BBKA @britishbee]

The Asian Hornet Watch app is the primary route to report yellow-legged Asian hornets in the UK.
Please download the app and share this post.

Upper right Apple
Lower right Android

[BBKA @britishbee]

With the first yellow-legged Asian hornet secondary nest found on Jersey this week, it may be worth a reminder of nest Identification. Please share on your own social media.

[BBKA @britishbee]

The GB Non native Species Secretariat has released a new Asian hornet poster. This one is specifically a jpg for digital sharing.

https://t.co/x70VqYH1OV

[Julian Newton @Beekeeperjools]

@ChrisGPackham . Dear sir. Please stop down playing the threat to ALL pollinators from Asian Hornet. You are not aware of all the facts and, with your considerable clout, undermine all the good work done so far by mostly volunteers. It's a whole picture.

[BBKA @britishbee]

Two further Asian hornet queens have been found by the NBU in spring traps.

Both hornets were found in a single trap near Four Oaks, Kent, with one being found on 22nd April and a second hornet found on 24th April.

3 queen hornets have been found at this location

[BBKA @britishbee]

Defra update 18.4.24

NBU traps have been set in Kent, East Sussex, Devon & North Yorkshire

13 April, a single hornet near Four Oaks, Kent
3 further credible sightings in April
8 April ferry between Calais and Dover
11 April Folkestone
13 April ferry France/Portsmouth

[BBKA @britishbee]

The hornets represent a triple threat: to the beekeeping industry, to the environment and to public health, said the French minister for biodiversity.

https://t.co/KVRwcATrff

[BBKA @britishbee]

Unconfirmed creditable sighting of a Yellow-legged Asian hornet in Preston, Lancashire. NBU to release more information when available.