Confirmed Asian Hornet Sighting – Hampshire

The National Bee Unit has confirmed a sighting of an individual, female Asian hornet in New Milton, Hampshire, after it was reported by a member of the public. Monitoring is underway to detect any other Asian hornets in the vicinity.

Identifying an Asian Hornet
Asian hornets have a dark brown or black velvety body. They have a characteristically dark abdomen and yellow tipped legs. They are smaller than the native European Hornet.

Reporting Asian Hornet Sightings
Asian hornets present a serious threat to honey bee health. If you spot one please notify the Great British Non Native Species Secretariat (NNSS) immediately. In the first instance sightings should be reported through the free Asian Hornet Watch App. Reports can also be made using the NNSS online notification form or by emailing alertnonnative@ceh.ac.uk . Where possible, a photo, the location of the sighting and a description of the insect seen should be included.