If you think you have seen an Asian hornet, do not call a pest controller and do not try to treat it. It is a notifiable non-native species under a government eradication programme, which means a suspected sighting goes to the authorities, not to a private company. Report it — with a photograph if you can take one safely — through one of the three official routes below.
Report it — the three official routes
The Asian hornet (Vespa velutina) is not something a pest control business deals with privately. Suspected sightings are logged by the GB Non-Native Species Secretariat, and where a nest is confirmed it is tracked down and destroyed by the National Bee Unit — a public body — at no cost to you. The concern is that, left unchecked, it preys heavily on native insects and pollinators and could establish here, which is why the eradication programme exists. The single most useful thing you can do is report quickly and accurately.
- The Asian Hornet Watch app. Free on the App Store and Google Play. It lets you attach a photo and records your location automatically. Links and details are on the GB Non-Native Species Secretariat's Asian hornet page.
- The online recording form. Report through the official Asian hornet recording form, attaching a photograph where you can.
- Email the alert address. Send a clear photograph and the location to alertnonnative@ceh.ac.uk — a postcode, a grid reference, or a what3words address all help.
Whichever route you use, a photograph makes the difference — it lets the authorities confirm or rule out the identification within minutes. If you cannot photograph the insect safely, do not put yourself near it to try.
Do not disturb the nest
The official advice is blunt, and worth repeating without softening it: do not approach, disturb, or provoke a suspected Asian hornet nest. Do not knock it down, do not spray it, and do not try to block the entrance. Note where it is, report it, and leave the nest itself to the National Bee Unit. Disturbing a nest is dangerous, and it can scatter a colony before it can be dealt with properly. This applies whether the nest is high in a tree or low in a hedge — the response is the same. Observe from a distance, and report.
How to tell an Asian hornet from the lookalikes
Most insects reported as Asian hornets are something else. Here is how the three most common candidates differ.
- Asian hornet (Vespa velutina). Darker than anything native — a velvety dark brown or black thorax, a mostly dark abdomen broken by a single wide orange-yellow band near the tail, and the clearest single field mark, bright yellow lower legs. It is slightly smaller than our native hornet. The overall impression is of a dark hornet with yellow feet.
- European hornet (Vespa crabro). Our large native hornet, and far more likely to be what you have seen. It looks like an oversized common wasp: brown and yellow, with a chestnut-brown thorax and reddish-brown legs rather than bright yellow ones. It is not a notifiable species, and we treat its nests routinely.
- Common wasp (Vespula vulgaris). Much smaller, around 12 to 17 millimetres, with the familiar bright yellow-and-black bands and a narrow waist. If the insect is small and vividly yellow, it is a wasp, not a hornet of any kind.
Most sightings turn out to be something harmless
The Asian hornet is not established in the UK. Individual insects and the occasional nest are found and removed each year, but there is no settled population here. Reports come in every season, and the great majority turn out to be European hornets, common wasps, or harmless mimics such as the hornet hoverfly. That is not a problem — the authorities would far rather check a photograph of a European hornet than miss the real thing. If you are unsure, report it anyway and let them confirm.
What we actually treat
To be clear about where this business fits: we treat wasp nests and the nests of the native European hornet, both at £60 fixed. We also deal with bumblebee nests, though a bumblebee colony can often be left alone to die back naturally in the autumn. We have no role in the Asian hornet eradication programme, and a suspected Asian hornet is a reporting matter for the authorities rather than a job for us. If you have read this far and realised what you actually have is an ordinary wasp or European hornet nest, that is the everyday work we do most days across Stockport and Greater Manchester.
Actually a wasp or European hornet nest?
If it turns out to be an ordinary wasp nest or a native European hornet nest — not an Asian hornet — that is the routine job. Call 07770 015197. £60 fixed fee, same-day across Stockport and Greater Manchester.
Call to BookBefore you rely on this page
The official reporting routes and identification guidance are reviewed by the authorities and do change from time to time. This page is checked against the GB Non-Native Species Secretariat's guidance each season. If you are reading it well into a later year, follow the official links above and confirm the current routes before acting on anything here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Don't call a pest controller — report it to the authorities. Suspected Asian hornet sightings go to the GB Non-Native Species Secretariat through the Asian Hornet Watch app, the online recording form, or by emailing alertnonnative@ceh.ac.uk with a photo and the location. Confirmed nests are dealt with by the National Bee Unit, not by private companies.
Report it through one of three official routes: the free Asian Hornet Watch app, the GB Non-Native Species Secretariat's online recording form, or an email to alertnonnative@ceh.ac.uk. Include a clear photograph if you can take one safely, and the location — a postcode, a grid reference, or a what3words address. A photo lets the authorities confirm the identification quickly.
An Asian hornet is darker than our native hornet, with a velvety dark brown or black thorax, a mostly dark abdomen broken by a single wide orange-yellow band near the tail, and bright yellow lower legs — which is why it's also called the yellow-legged hornet. It is slightly smaller than a European hornet. Bright yellow legs on an otherwise dark hornet are the clearest single field mark.
No — the Asian hornet is not established in the UK. Individual insects and the occasional nest are found and removed each year under a government eradication programme, but there is no settled population here. Most insects reported as Asian hornets turn out to be European hornets, common wasps, or harmless lookalikes.
The European hornet is our large native hornet — mostly brown and yellow, like an oversized wasp, with reddish-brown legs. The Asian hornet is darker overall, with a black thorax, a largely dark abdomen crossed by one orange band, and bright yellow legs. The European hornet is far more common here and is not notifiable; the Asian hornet is.
No. Official advice is not to approach, disturb, or provoke a suspected Asian hornet nest. Note where it is, report the sighting, and leave the nest to the National Bee Unit, who deal with confirmed nests. Disturbing one is dangerous and can scatter the colony before it can be handled properly.
No. We treat wasp nests and native European hornet nests, but a suspected Asian hornet is a reporting matter for the authorities, not a job for a private pest controller. We have no role in the eradication programme. If what you have is an ordinary wasp or European hornet nest, that we can help with.