Asian hornet Vespa velutina nests are on the increase. The Asian hornet kills and eats bees and pollinators, including bumble bees, honey bees, hover flies and solitary bees, and is a significant threat to all UK pollinators. Nests can be at low levels and in treetops.
The Asian hornet is not yet established in the UK. The more people that can get involved the better to protect Enfield’s Green Spaces and wildlife!
The Enfield Beekeepers’ Association is co-ordinating efforts to spread awareness and encourage the trapping and recording of sightings of Asian Hornets. As a non-native species, it is important that a nest can be located by the National Bee Unit.
Things you can do to help
- Download the free Asian Hornet Watch app on your mobile phone to inform and assist with identification and reporting.
- Create your own monitoring trap and check regularly from spring to November. Ideally, position the trap in the sun, on the ivy, facing south.
- Report the trap location post code, contact name, and phone number to Enfield Beekeepers’ Association
- What to do if you find an Asian hornet in your trap? Don’t let it out.
Take a photo, report it on the app, keep it in a safe place and wait for a response. You will be told next steps.
Asian hornets and native pollinators favour ivy in autumn which produces large quantities of nectar and pollen. If you walk the same route regularly, e.g., to walk your dog, please check the ivy enroute.
If you see an Asian hornet nest, or an Asian hornet resting somewhere, or flying, take a photo and report it on the app.
If the hornet flies off, try to remember the direction it flew in.
European hornets Vespa crabro, are not a concern.
