To view location of destroyed nests please visit the map page and choose the Asian Hornet map layer
As of 24/06/2024:
23 Asian hornets have been reported in the UK 2024.
20 confirmed Asian hornet samples.
1 Asian hornet nest has been killed.
| Sighting Photo | Grid Ref: | Date initial sighting | Date confirmed by Lab. | Location | County | Reported by | Sighting/ Nest | Other information | Date nest destroyed | |
| NS |  |
TQ81 | 17/01/2024 | No sample | Westfield | East Sussex | Member of Public | Unconfirmed single hornet | Footwell of car | - |
| 1 |  |
TR25 | 08/03/2024 | 11 March | Ash | Kent | Member of Public | Single Hornet | Hibernating in a plant pot | - |
| NS |  |
SD52 | 19/03/2024 | No sample | Preston | Lancashire | Member of Public | Unconfirmed single hornet | Warehouse | - |
| 2 |  |
TQ59 | 21/03/2024 | 22/3/2024 | Romford | Greater London | Beekeeper |
Single Hornet Worker |
Dead insect on floor of workshop | - |
| NS |  |
TR24 | 8/4/2024 | No sample | Ferry | English Channel | Member of the public | Unconfirmed single hornet | - | - |
| 3 |  |
TQ82 | 13/4/2024 | 16/4/2024 | Four Oaks | East Sussex | Inspector | Single hornet | NBU spring monitoring | |
| 4 |  |
TQ82 | 22/4/2024 | 24/4/2024 | Four Oaks | East Sussex | Inspector | Single hornet | NBU spring monitoring | |
| 5 |  |
TQ82 | 24/4/2024 | 25/4/2024 | Four Oaks | East Sussex | Inspector | Single hornet | NBU spring monitoring | |
| 6 |  |
TR13 | 5/5/2024 | 10/5/2024 | Lympne | Kent | Member of the public | Single hornet | Found in conservatory | |
| 7 |  |
TQ82 | 10/5/2024 | 13/05/2024 | Four Oaks | East Sussex | Inspector | Single hornet | NBU spring monitoring | |
| 8 | TQ82 | 10/5/2024 | 13/05/2024 | Four Oaks | East Sussex | Inspector | Single hornet | NBU spring monitoring second site | ||
| 9 |  |
TQ82 | 18/5/2024 | 21/05/2024 | Four Oaks | East Sussex | Inspector | Single hornet | NBU spring monitoring | |
| 10 | TR13 | 15/05/2024 | 17/05/2024 | Etching Hill | Kent | Member of the public | Single hornet | |||
| 11 |  |
TR24 | 15/5/2024 | 17/05/204 | Denton | Kent | Beekeeper | Single hornet | AHT spring monitoring | |
| 12 |  |
TR24 | 20/05/2024 | 22/05/2024 | Alkham | Kent | Member of the public | Single hornet | ||
| 13 | TQ82 | 20/05/2024 | 22/05/2024 | Four Oaks | East Sussex | Inspector | Single hornet | NBU spring monitoring | ||
| 14 |  |
TR25 | 21/05/2025 | 24/05/2024 | Barham near Canterbury | Kent | Member of the public | Single hornet and primary nest | Roof near road | 21/05/2024 |
| 15 |  |
TR34 | 21/05/2024 | 24/05/2024 | St Margaret's Bay | Kent | Inspector | Single hornet | NBU spring monitoring | |
| 16 | TR13 | 23/05/2024 | 30/05/2024 | Etchinghill | Kent | Member of the public/ Inspector | Single hornet | NBU spring monitoring | ||
| 17 | TQ82 | 24/05/2024 | 30/05/2024 | Four Oaks | East Sussex | Inspector | Single hornet | NBU spring monitoring | ||
| 18 | TR34 | 25/05/2024 | 30/05/2024 | Martin Mill | Kent | Member of the public | Caught in a net by Inspector | |||
| 19 | TR34 | 30/05/2024 | 04/06/2024 | Martin Mill | Kent | Inspector | Single hornet | NBU spring monitoring | ||
| 20 | TQ82 | 04/06/2024 | 06/06/2024 | Four Oaks | East Sussex | Inspector | Single hornet | NBU spring monitoring |
To note:
- Sighting photos not always available.
- 'Date of initial sighting', sometimes shows that sightings are reported retrospectively.
- 'Date confirmed by Lab' is the date sightings are confirmed formally by a laboratory and includes delivery times.
- No sample (NS)
Please report sightings of Vespa velutina using the Asian hornet Watch app for Apple devices android devices or online form.
June Genetics Update
The NBU has now drawn its spring trapping work to a close. Below is an update on the key findings and latest results of the ongoing genetic analysis.
On 4th June, a further Asian hornet was trapped in Four Oaks, East Sussex. This hornet was sent to Fera Science and was officially confirmed on 6th June. Genetic analysis will also be completed on the sample. This makes a total of 8 Asian hornets caught in this area. Genotype analysis has been completed for 7 of the hornets and the results indicate that these are all the offspring of the nest destroyed in Rye, East Sussex, on 15th November 2023.
Analysis of the single Asian hornet trapped in Denton, Kent, indicates that this was the offspring of a nest destroyed in Alkham, Kent, on 17th October 2023. This is the second occurrence where we have evidence of a UK nest reaching maturity and successfully overwintering.
The results from the genetic analysis of hornets captured at Etchinghill, Kent and St. Margaret’s Bay, Kent show that they are not offspring of any of the known nests destroyed in 2023. However, the results suggest they are related to hornets trapped during contingency action in 2023, but which could not be allocated to a known nest. This could suggest that in 2023 there were unreported nests in these areas. It is important to note that the NBU and local Asian Hornet Teams did extended surveillance across Kent at the end of the 2023 season, which did not result in the discovery of any further nests.
Genetic analysis has also been completed for the primary nest destroyed near Canterbury, Kent on 23rd May. The queen did not appear to be the offspring of any of the known nests from 2023. The nest contained only six larvae which were entirely triploid, meaning the queen had mated with at least one diploid drone. If this was the only drone that the queen had mated with, we believe the future gynes from this nest would be infertile and could not develop into a viable population.
The two other Asian hornet queens confirmed at Alkham and Lympne in Kent, do not appear to be the offspring of any known nest from 2023.