- European hornet
- 25–35 mm, brown and yellow
- Asian hornet
- Slightly smaller, mostly dark with yellow legs
- Peak season
- Late summer and autumn
- What to do
- Report Asian hornets
If you think you've seen an Asian hornet, the most useful thing you can do is report it with a photo. Don't try to destroy a nest yourself.
Signs of hornets
- A very large wasp-like insect, brown and yellow, sometimes flying at night and drawn to lights (European hornet)
- A dark, almost black hornet with one yellow-orange band near the tail and yellow legs (Asian hornet)
- Hornets hovering outside beehives, catching bees (Asian hornet behaviour)
- A large papery nest high in a tree, hedge or building
How to be sure
European hornet: big, brown and yellow, with a reddish-brown head. Asian hornet: dark body with a single orange-yellow band, a dark thorax and distinctive yellow legs. Common wasps are smaller and bright yellow and black all over.
Several harmless insects get mistaken for Asian hornets, including the hornet mimic hoverfly. A photo helps experts confirm what you've seen.
What you can do yourself
- If you suspect an Asian hornet, take a photo from a safe distance and report it through the Asian Hornet Watch app or the official online reporting form.
- Note where you saw it and what it was doing.
- Don't disturb or attempt to destroy an Asian hornet nest. Reports are followed up by the authorities.
- European hornets are native and useful predators. If a nest isn't causing a problem, it can be left to die off in late autumn.
Call a professional if
- A European hornet nest is in or on your house, near doors or play areas
- Anyone in the household has a sting allergy
- You're unsure what species it is and it's in a difficult spot
The law: The Asian hornet is a notifiable invasive species. Suspected sightings should be reported so that nests can be found and destroyed by specialists.
Safety: If someone is stung and has swelling of the face or throat, difficulty breathing or feels faint, call 999.
Keeping them out
- Seal gaps in sheds and lofts over winter
- Keep an eye on bird boxes and outbuildings in spring, when queens look for nest sites
Kit that helps
- Phone camera with zoom
- Asian Hornet Watch app
Product types only. We'll only ever point you to things we'd use ourselves.
Questions people ask
Are Asian hornets dangerous to people?
An individual Asian hornet is no more dangerous than a wasp, but nests are defended aggressively. Their main threat is to honeybees and other pollinators.
How do I report an Asian hornet?
Use the Asian Hornet Watch app or the official online reporting form, and include a photo if you can do so safely.
Are European hornets protected?
They aren't legally protected, but they're native and help control other insects. Many experts suggest leaving nests that aren't causing a problem.
Do hornets fly at night?
European hornets can be active after dark and are attracted to lit windows.