Our Services Asian Hornet Asian Hornet Sightings and Incursion Map It is crucial that any possible sightings are reported so experts can take quick and effective action to eradicate Asian Hornets. The best way is to use the 'Asian Hornet Watch' app to record and report any sightings. The app is available for both Apple and Android devices. Photos and videos can also be sent by email to: [email protected]This incursion map will update with any further sightings of Asian Hornets and includes sightings in the UK since 2016 If you click on the logo on the map then you can select each year as required. This allows you to view just the current year or to also have previous years sighting's of Asian hornets showing. Details of sightings in 2023: In 2023 there have been 72 Asian hornet nests found in 56 locations. A rolling update is available on BeeBase. 18th November 2023Following enhanced monitoring in Kent, the NBU located a nest in Rye this week. It has been destroyed and removed.The NBU surveillance will be closed down over the weekend as the season has drawn to a close. 10th November 2023No further nests have been located since the last update. The NBU has extended its enhanced monitoring in Kent to continue through next week. 3rd November 2023Following active operations in Tenterden, this week the NBU were able to locate a nest which has been destroyed.The NBU is currently conducting enhanced monitoring throughout the Kent county. 27th October 2023No further nests have been located this week.The NBU is conducting active operations in Tenterden and Deal in response to credible sightings of Asian hornets.A number of sites in Kent continue to be monitored. 20th October 2023Four nests have been found in Kent this week. One in the Folkestone area, 2 in different locations in the West Downs area and 1 in the Dover area.Credible reports are continuing to decrease and are often related to an incident the NBU are already aware of. The NBU are continuing surveillance in the Kent area and post-destruction monitoring of nest sites. 13th October 2023A nest has been found near Ashford in Kent which has been destroyed.Three other locations in Kent are being monitored in response to credible sightings. 10th October 2023A further nest has been found at the complex site on the Kent coast. A few other locations in Kent are being monitored in response to credible sightings. 6th October 2023A nest has been located near Dover, Kent, which has been destroyed. Active operations continue at a complex site on the coast of Kent, a further nest has been located, which has been destroyed today. The NBU has initiated active operations at a new location in Folkestone, Kent. In addition, a number of other locations across Kent are being monitored in response to credible sightings of Asian hornets. 3rd October 2023A nest has been located close to Canterbury, which is due to be destroyed later this week. Following continued active operations at a complex site on the coast of Kent, a further nest has been located, this is due to be destroyed today. The NBU is also monitoring another location in response to a credible sighting of Asian hornet. 29th September 2023A nest has been located close to Southampton, which is due to be destroyed next week. A further nest has been found in Eastbourne, which is thought to be linked to the previous nest found in the area. This has been destroyed. The NBU is monitoring several locations in response to credible sightings of Asian hornets. 26th September 2023A nest was foiund in the Deal area and a further nest was found on the Kent coast where several nests were found previously These should be destroyed later this week. A further nest was found in Hull which is thought to be linked to the previous nest found in Hull. This was destroyed yesterday. A nest has been found in Eastbourne. This should be destroyed this week. 22nd September 2023This week following active operations in Dover and Maidstone the NBU were able to locate a nest in both locations. The nest in Dover has been destroyed while the nest in Maidstone is due to be destroyed next week. Active operations led to the finding of a nest in Yarm today, it should be destroyed and removed next week. 20th September 2023Over the weekend the NBU were able to locate a nest in Southend-on-Sea which is due to be destroyed this week.This week the NBU responded to a credible sighting of Asian hornet in Tenterden and following active operations the NBU were successful in locating a nest. A nest was also located in the St Margaret’s Bay area. Both nests are due to be destroyed later this week.Active operations have been initiated at another site near Dover. The NBU are also monitoring three locations in Kent.A site in Yarm is being monitored in response to a credible report of Asian hornets. The NBU is also monitoring a site in Eastbourne in response to a credible report of Asian hornets. 15th September 2023The NBU are currently conducting active operations in Southend-on-Sea. Following active operations at new sites in Kent, a nest was found in Folkestone and a nest was found in Maidstone. On the 13th September the NBU were successful in locating a nest in Hackney which has been destroyed and removed. The NBU have found two nests at a location in Oxted, Surrey. Both nests are due to be destroyed today.This week the NBU were able to locate a nest in Hull. This is due to be destroyed early next week. 11th September 2023Following active operations in Hastings over the weekend, the NBU were able to locate a nest which is due to be destroyed shortly.The NBU are conducting further active operations in the Folkestone area.A site in the New Forest is being monitored in response to a credible report of Asian hornet.The NBU is also monitoring a coastal site near Hull in response to a credible report of Asian hornet. 8th September 2023The NBU have located a nest at a new location in Whitstable. A nest was also found in Folkestone. As a nest had previously been discovered at this location the number of locations has not increased. Following credible reports of Asian hornet, the NBU is monitoring a site in Dover.The NBU have responded to credible reports of Asian hornets in Oxted this week. Today they located a nest which is due to be destroyed. Active operations are due to be initiated at a site near Hastings. The NBU are monitoring a site in Hackney in response to a credible report of Asian hornet. 6th September 2023The NBU have located a nest in the West Downs and two nests at separate sites in Dover. An additional nest was found in Rochester and another in Folkestone. Nests had previously been located at both of these sites, so they have not been listed as new locations. Following credible reports of Asian hornets, the NBU is monitoring sites in Maidstone and Whitstable. The NBU has also initiated active operations at a site in Southampton, Hampshire. ‘Courtesy The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Crown Copyright’. 30th August 2023The NBU located a nest in central Folkestone which has been destroyed.Following ongoing active operations in a complex location near Folkestone the NBU located 3 nests at the site this week.The NBU has also initiated active operations at a site in the West Downs and two additional sites in Dover. 26th August 2023The NBU located a nest in Folkestone and a nest near Canterbury. Destruction and removal of both nests is planned to take place later this week. The NBU has also initiated active operations at a site in Folkestone, a site in Dover and a site near Ashford. A new location in Plymouth is also being monitored as a result of a credible report of Asian hornet. 20th August 2023The NBU responded to a credible sighting of Asian hornet in Thamesmead, London on the 20th August. A nest was located and it will be destroyed and removed later in the week. Over the weekend the NBU located a nest in Dover, a nest in Rochester, a nest in St Margaret’s Bay and a further nest in Maidstone. Active operations have also been initiated at a third location in Maidstone. 17th August 2023A nest was located in Royal Tunbridge Wells. The NBU is also conducting active operations in Rochester. In addition, active operations have been initiated at another location in Maidstone. The NBU is monitoring a site in the Dover area in response to a credible sighting of Asian hornet. 15th August 2023 A further three nests have been located at separate locations in Folkestone over the weekend. The NBU is also conducting active operations at single locations in Folkestone and Deal. 14th August 2023The NBU located a nest in Newhaven. 11th August 2023 Folkestone: The primary and secondary nests found at a single location in Folkestone have now been destroyed. The NBU is conducting active operations at four other locations in Folkestone.East Sussex: The NBU is monitoring a location in East Sussex following a credible sighting of Asian hornet. 8th August 2023 Folkestone: A further two nests (primary and secondary) have been located at a single location in Folkestone over the weekend. Destruction is due to take place today. In addition, the NBU is monitoring the site at Hawkinge and carrying out active surveillance at two other sites in Folkestone. Whitstable: A nest was located on 5th August. It has been destroyed and removed. Maidstone: A nest was located on 5th August and has been destroyed. Deal: On 7th August the NBU located a nest. Destruction is due to take place later this week. Active operations continue at a separate location in Deal, while another site is being monitored. Devon:The secondary nest located in Plymouth was destroyed and removed on 4th of August. Dorset: The NBU located another nest in Portland on 4th of August. Both nests were destroyed on 5th of August. Surveillance is on-going. 4th August 2023The NBU has located a nest in Portland this morning. They are also conducting surveillance in a second location on the island.The NBU is carrying out active operations at Hawkinge, another site in Folkestone and single locations in Whitstable, Maidstone, Dover and Deal.There have also been further credible sightings at separate locations in Folkestone, Dover and Deal which the NBU are monitoring.In addition to the secondary nest due to be destroyed in Plymouth, the NBU is monitoring a second site in response to an unconfirmed suspected Asian hornet nest destroyed by a home owner.3rd August 2023The National Bee Unit (NBU) destroyed a primary Asian hornet nest in Folkestone. Surveillance will continue to be carried out in the area to determine if a secondary nest is present. 1st August 2023On 28th July the National Bee Unit (NBU) removed a secondary Asian hornet nest in Plymouth. The inspectors located the primary nest on 1st August and destruction will take place later in the week.After responding to a credible sighting in Folkestone, Kent the NBU located a nest on 1st August. Destruction is planned to occur in the following days. ‘Courtesy The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Crown Copyright’. 30th July 2023The NBU located a primary nest in Hawkinge on 30th July. The nest was destroyed and removed.28th July 2023National Bee Unit (NBU) are responding to a credible sighting of Asian hornets (Vespa velutina) in Hawkinge, just outside Folkestone. 27th July 2023An Asian hornet nest has been discovered and treated in Plymouth. Removal is expected to take place shortly. The National Bee Unit (NBU) have also received 5 other potential sightings of individual Asian hornets which they are monitoring together with support from the local Asian Hornet Teams. 24th July 2023A nest was found in the Dover district of Kent. This was destroyed on 24th July. NBU will continue surveillance to ensure that there are no further nests in the area. 22nd - 23rd July 2023A credible sighting of an Asian hornet in Plymouth was received over the weekend. The NBU are investigating. 20th July 2023The National Bee Unit (NBU) responded to a credible sighting of Asian hornets (Vespa velutina) in Gravesend, Kent. Shortly after NBU inspectors reached the site they located a small primary nest in a nearby residential garden. The nest was destroyed on the same day. It has been removed and sent to Fera for confirmation and analysis. The NBU will continue to carry out surveillance in the area to ensure any remaining hornets are captured. 17th July 2023National Bee Unit (NBU) inspectors are currently carrying out enhanced surveillance in the Dover district in response to a confirmed sighting of Asian hornet (Vespa velutina). A single hornet was captured and reported on 17th July to the NBU by a local beekeeper. An NBU Inspector collected the sample which was sent to Fera who confirmed the specimen was Vespa velutina. Defra have issued a press notice to raise awareness and ask people to report sightings. Although Asian hornet nests will be smaller at this time in the year we are still asking people to be vigilant. 1st July 2023The National Bee Unit received a credible Asian hornet sighting from Kent, near Dover, with accompanying photographs. The hornet was found in some sugar water which a beekeeper was using to feed bees. The NBU has collected the specimen which will be analysed by scientists. Beekeepers in the area and volunteer Asian hornet teams will be asked to maintain vigilance and to continue monitoring for Asian hornet. ‘Courtesy The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Crown Copyright’. 22nd June 2023A small primary nest of Asian hornets was reported to the NBU near Dover in Kent. A National Bee Unit Inspector investigated the report and collected samples which have been sent for analysis by scientists. Traps have been set for hornets returning to the nest site, and follow up activities will take place to raise awareness. This is the earliest date in the season that a nest has ever been found in Great Britain. Nests have previously been reported in the autumn, when insects are more visible as the population of the nest increases to its maximum. 28th May 2023Whilst doing a routine apiary inspection near Canterbury in Kent, a bee farmer recognised an Asian hornet that had been attracted to the colonies and knocked it down. The NBU collected the specimen which will be analysed by scientists and follow up activities will take place to raise awareness. 18th May 2023The National Bee Unit received a credible report of an Asian Hornet discovered in a workshop approximately 15 miles from Ashford in Kent. The insect was caught and will be analysed by scientists. This was a single hornet incursion and follow up activities will take place to raise risk awareness. 17th April 2023The National Bee Unit received a credible Asian hornet sighting taken on the deck of a ferry from Poole to Cherbourg on 10th April 2023. Local beekeepers along the South Coast and volunteer Asian hornet teams have been asked to remain alert for Asian or yellow-legged Hornet (Vespa velutina) and report suspected sightings. 13th April 2023The National Bee Unit received a credible Asian hornet sighting from the Folkestone area, with accompanying photographs. The hornet flew off before it could be captured. The details from the report suggest this was a single hornet incursion. Beekeepers in the area and volunteer Asian hornet teams will be asked to maintain vigilance and monitor for Asian hornet. 5th April 2023The National Bee Unit received a credible triaged report of an Asian hornet discovered inside a cauliflower within a weekly vegetable delivery in Northumberland, approximately 20 miles north of Newcastle upon Tyne. The cauliflower was produced in France. The NBU responded to the report and a bee inspector collected the hornet later the same day for analysis. This was a single hornet incursion and follow up activities will take place to raise risk awareness with the producer/distributor/seller. Details of all confirmed sightings of Asian Hornet since 2016 can be found on Defra's Asian hornet sightings page. Manage Cookie Preferences