A Folkestone beekeeper opened his hive last summer and found something he had been dreading. A dark hornet, twice the size of anything native, hovered above the frames. He had spotted his first Asian hornet in Kent.
Kent has recorded more confirmed Asian hornet sightings than any other UK county since 2016. If you live in Folkestone, Dover, Canterbury or anywhere across the South East, you need to know what to look for.
This guide shows you how to identify an Asian hornet, how to report a sighting properly, and what to do if you suspect a nest on your property.
What Is the Asian Hornet and Why Is It a Problem in Kent?
The Asian hornet (Vespa velutina) is an invasive predatory insect first recorded in the UK in 2016. It is smaller than the native European hornet and poses a serious threat to honeybees. Kent has recorded the highest number of UK sightings due to its proximity to mainland Europe.
The species arrived in Europe through France in 2004, most likely as a stowaway in a pottery shipment from China. It has since spread across the continent. The first UK sighting was confirmed in Tetbury, Gloucestershire, in 2016.
Kent now sits on the front line. The county shares the shortest sea route with France, where the hornet is firmly established. Most confirmed UK nests in recent seasons have been found within 50 miles of the Kent coast.
Asian hornets hunt honeybees by hovering outside hives and picking off returning foragers. A single hornet can kill dozens of bees a day. A mature nest can wipe out a colony in weeks.
How to Identify an Asian Hornet
An Asian hornet has a dark body, a single yellow-orange band on its abdomen, yellow-tipped legs and an orange face. It measures 25 to 30mm long. It only flies during daylight hours.
Look for these five features:
- Size of 25 to 30mm, smaller than a European hornet
- Dark brown or black body with a velvety appearance
- A single yellow-orange band on the fourth segment of the abdomen
- Yellow tips on the legs, giving the species its other name, the yellow-legged hornet
- An orange face, best seen in close-up photographs
Behaviour also gives them away. Asian hornets hover in front of beehives in a pattern beekeepers call hawking. They are active only in daylight. Any large hornet flying at dusk or after dark is almost certainly a European hornet.
Asian Hornet vs European Hornet at a Glance
Most suspected sightings in Kent turn out to be European hornets. The native species is larger, paler and protected by law. Confusing the two wastes time for the National Bee Unit, which investigates every report.
Here is how the two compare:
| Feature | Asian Hornet | European Hornet | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 25 to 30mm | 30 to 35mm | Asian hornets are smaller than people expect |
| Body Colour | Mostly dark brown or black | Brown with yellow stripes | Asian hornet appears noticeably darker |
| Abdomen | One yellow-orange band | Yellow with brown stripes | Single band is the giveaway |
| Legs | Yellow tips | Brown throughout | Source of the name “yellow-legged hornet” |
| Face | Orange | Yellow | Best seen in clear photographs |
| Active Hours | Daytime only | Day and night | Night-flying hornets are not Asian hornets |
| Legal Status | Notifiable invasive species | Native, protected role | Asian hornet sightings must be reported |
If you see a hornet at night, it is European. If you see one hawking outside a beehive in daylight, take a photo from a safe distance.
Where Asian Hornets Have Been Seen in Kent
Confirmed Asian hornet sightings in Kent have clustered around Folkestone, Dover, Hythe, Ashford and Canterbury. Most reports come in between August and October, when nests reach peak size and workers forage widely for sugar and protein.
The pattern reflects Kent’s geography. Cross-Channel traffic moves hornets in lorries, ferries and shipping containers. Coastal towns see the first arrivals each season. Inland sightings tend to follow main road corridors.
According to GOV.UK data, the National Bee Unit has destroyed dozens of confirmed Asian hornet nests across Kent in recent seasons. You can check the latest figures on the official GOV.UK Asian hornet page.
Our team has attended call-outs across the Folkestone and Dover area where homeowners reported suspected sightings. Most have been false alarms, usually queen European hornets or large wasps. A small number have led to confirmed reports passed to APHA.
What Does an Asian Hornet Nest Look Like?
An Asian hornet nest is built from chewed wood pulp and has a pale beige or brown papery appearance. Early-season primary nests are small, around the size of a tennis ball, and sit low to the ground. Mature secondary nests can reach the size of a beach ball and hang high in tree canopies.
Primary Nests (Spring to Early Summer)
Queens build primary nests after emerging in March or April. These early nests are easy to miss.
- Around the size of a golf ball to a small grapefruit
- Found low down in sheds, garden furniture, hedges, eaves and porches
- Usually contain only the queen and her first brood
- Most likely to be spotted by gardeners and allotment holders
Secondary Nests (Late Summer to Autumn)
The colony moves to a larger nest from July onwards. By autumn these nests can hold thousands of workers.
- Often the size of a football, sometimes much larger
- Built high in tree canopies, usually 10 metres or more above the ground
- Frequently only visible once leaves drop in late autumn
- Can produce hundreds of new queens before winter
If you find a small papery nest in a shed during April or May, do not knock it down. That is when a primary nest is easiest to destroy and when reporting it makes the biggest difference.
How to Report an Asian Hornet Sighting in Kent
Report Asian hornet sightings through the free Asian Hornet Watch app or by emailing alertnonnative@ceh.ac.uk with a photograph and location. Do not approach the hornet or any suspected nest. The National Bee Unit reviews every report.
Follow these five steps:
- Keep your distance. Stay at least three metres from the hornet or any suspected nest.
- Photograph it if you can. A clear side-on photo showing the legs and abdomen is best.
- Note the location. A what3words reference is the most accurate format.
- Submit your report through the Asian Hornet Watch app on iOS or Android, or email alertnonnative@ceh.ac.uk.
- If you suspect a nest on your property, contact a BPCA-certified pest professional for on-site identification before any further action.
You can download the Asian Hornet Watch app from the Non-Native Species Secretariat website. Reports are reviewed by APHA, which dispatches a response team when sightings are verified.
What to Do If You Find an Asian Hornet Nest
Do not attempt to destroy an Asian hornet nest yourself. Confirmed nests are destroyed by the National Bee Unit free of charge. Your priority is to confirm identification, keep people and pets away, and report the location quickly.
Here is what to do step by step:
- Keep everyone, including pets, well away from the nest area.
- Do not spray, hit, knock down or burn the nest. Disturbance triggers a mass defensive response.
- Photograph the nest and any hornets from at least 10 metres away.
- Report the sighting using the steps in the section above.
- Call a BPCA-certified pest control team for on-site identification and to help liaise with APHA.
We do not destroy confirmed Asian hornet nests ourselves. That is APHA’s role and the service is free to the public. What we do is confirm identification on-site, document the sighting properly with photographs and grid references, and coordinate the handover.
This matters because positive identification is the slowest part of the process. A Kent-based team that knows the species can save you days of waiting.
Are Asian Hornets Dangerous to Humans?
A single Asian hornet sting is no more dangerous than a wasp or European hornet sting for most people. The real danger is disturbing a nest, which can trigger an attack by hundreds of hornets at once.
People with bee or wasp allergies face the same anaphylaxis risk as with any stinging insect. Carry your auto-injector if you have one prescribed.
The greater threat is ecological. A mature Asian hornet nest can destroy a honeybee colony and reduce wild pollinator populations across a wide area. That is why prompt reporting matters even if the hornet has not stung anyone.
Never approach a nest. Never try to remove one. Even professionals working under licence use specialist suits and platforms to reach secondary nests in tree canopies.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are Asian hornets active in the UK?
Asian hornets are active from March or April, when queens emerge from hibernation, through to November. Peak activity runs from August to October as secondary nests reach full size. They fly only in daylight and are not active at night.
Can I kill an Asian hornet myself?
You can kill a single Asian hornet if you can do so safely, but report the sighting first with a photograph. Never attempt to spray, smoke or destroy a nest. Nest destruction is carried out by the National Bee Unit free of charge once a sighting is confirmed.
What kills Asian hornets?
Asian hornet nests are destroyed by licensed APHA operatives using approved insecticides applied directly into the nest at night. No legal DIY method exists for nest destruction in the UK. Bait stations are sometimes used by beekeepers, but only to monitor activity.
How do I know if there is an Asian hornet nest near me?
Watch for repeated daytime sightings of dark hornets with yellow-tipped legs, especially around beehives, fallen fruit or flowering ivy in late summer. A primary nest may sit low in a shed or hedge. Secondary nests are usually high in trees and visible only after leaf fall.
Should I be worried about Asian hornets in my Kent garden?
You should be aware, not alarmed. Most large hornets seen in Kent gardens are still European hornets, which are native and play a useful role. Learn the identification features above, report anything suspicious, and contact a local BPCA-certified team if you are unsure.
What to Do Next
You now know what an Asian hornet looks like, how it differs from a European hornet, and how to report a sighting correctly. You also know what to do if you find a nest, and what not to do.
If you have seen a suspected Asian hornet in Kent or you think you have a nest on your property, our BPCA-certified Kent team can attend the same day. We confirm identification on-site, document the sighting and coordinate with APHA across Folkestone, Dover, Canterbury and the wider South East.
Have you seen one this season? The sooner suspected sightings are reported, the better the chance of containing the spread.