As part of Yellow-legged Hornet Week (7 – 13 September) South West Water is encouraging the public to learn how to identify and report the insect, identifiable by its namesake legs and dark abdomens with a standout orange stripe.
They are a priority non-native invasive species, first discovered in 2016 just 30 miles from Bristol. The water company is continuing to support and sponsor organisations working to eradicate Yellow-legged hornets, also known as Asian hornets, and to protect natural and native pollinators.
As of 3 September, the National Bee Unit has recorded sightings of 167 Yellow-legged hornets and 53 nests across Britain. A single nest of these apex predators can eat around 11kg of native insects within a single season, meaning around 90,000 native pollinating insects could have been consumed since January.
They are predators to over 1,400 species and feed on our native bees as well as a range of other pollinators, including butterflies, bumblebees and beetles. The number of Yellow-legged hornets in the UK rose rapidly in 2023 and September is the peak time to spot them.
The responsibility to report Yellow-legged hornets reaches far beyond beekeepers as the hornets pose a legitimate threat to both people and wildlife. As a large landowner across the South West, with a responsibility for conserving the natural environment, South West Water has been working closely with a range of stakeholders to protect native biodiversity.
Through consistent support of organisations like the Somerset Beekeepers Association, providing promotional materials to local beekeeping groups, supporting conferences to share research, and running outreach projects to raise awareness at community road shows and events, South West Water is encouraging members of the public to keep an eye out for Yellow-legged hornets and to report any suspected sightings.
You can report suspected sightings by downloading the Asian Hornet Watch app which can be found at: www.nonnativespecies.org/non-native-species/species-alerts/
Once a positive report is found, the nest will be tracked down and humanely disposed of by a special team funded by the government.
Rebecca Northey, beekeeper and Invasives and Biosecurity Officer at South West Water, said: “The Yellow-legged hornet is a major threat to our native insects, so it’s really important that we play a part to monitor and manage the species.
There are also health and safety concerns as Yellow-legged hornets will defend their nests vigorously if disturbed, and unfortunately their nests are how being found in bramble thickets and places closer to human activity. This is why we are encouraging all of our customers to download the Asian Hornet Watch app and keep a look out, especially on fallen apples and ivy at this time of year.”