| April 2026 There have been a number of isolated incidents of Asian hornets being spotted in the last 2 months and reported by the NBU. Doncaster in South Yorkshire was the first followed by Sawtry in Cambridgeshire. Kent is again featuring often in the sightings with Nonington near Dover and Densole declaring incidents in April. Oxted in Surrey featured in a sighting on 9th of the month before further reports from Kent in Sandwich, Nonington (again) and Kingston near Canterbury. As all incidents concerned single hornets they are unlikely to be associated with nests at this time of the year and no further action is planned. February 2026 On Thursday, 26th February the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s National Bee Unit (NBU) informed that they had received a report made through the app of a Yellow-legged hornet in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. At the time, it has not been possible to ascertain if the insect was captured but the sighting is considered to be credible. January 2026 For the first time since early April there has been no official update on more yellow-legged Asian hornet sightings or nests. The British-Irish Council Secretariat has been working to organise a webinar for the Invasive Species Work Sector. This has been scheduled for Wednesday, 11th February 2026, on the topic of ‘Combatting the Threat of Asian Hornets Across These Islands’. Dr Niall Moore is chairing; Chris Isaacs providing an update on the situation in the Channel Isles and nest analysis, Pete Kennedy providing an update on YLH in Europe, John Kelly providing an overview of the Irish response, and Ian Campbell providing an update on the response in England. If you wish to find out more or the book your space, please click on the following link Combatting the Threat of Asian Hornets Across These Islands. https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/f2096846-dd45-4294-97de-a5398e9e94f2@0ef77447-1083-4dec-b89f-27c765076840 December 2025 As of 21st November, the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s National Bee Unit (NBU) advised that they have received further credible reports of YLH’s. This means that currently there has been a total of 544 sightings in 2025 and 159 confirmed nests. Since the last update, three more nests have been discovered in Etchingham and Ewhurst, East Sussex and in Swyre, Dorset. This nest has been destroyed and will be removed. For the first time since early April there has been no official update on more yellow-legged Asian hornet sightings or nests. November 2026 As of 24th October, the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s National Bee Unit (NBU) confirmed that they had received further credible reports of yellow-legged Asian hornets. This means that currently there has been a total of 527 sightings this year. Since the last update, 6 more nests have been discovered in Kent, Dorset, East Sussex and one in Haywards Heath in West Sussex. 155 nests have been found this year. October 2025 As of 25th September, the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s National Bee Unit (NBU) had received further credible reports of yellow-legged Asian hornets. This means that currently there has been a total of 476 sightings this year.
Since the last update, 11 more nests have been discovered taking the total this year to 129. In Kent - Cobham, Plaxtol, Tenterden, Maidstone and 8 others. In Surrey - Godstone, Holmbury St Mary and Dorking, Frinton-on-Sea in Essex, Southampton and the Scilly Isles.
All nests to date having been destroyed and the NBU is following up the other credible reports and anticipate finding further nests. September 2025 A significant number of reports have continued during August with sightings in Kent, Surrey and East Sussex. 86 nests had been confirmed as of 28th August with 342 sightings. The BBKA has reminded all members that there is a very small window of opportunity now before queens begin to emerge and disperse, which could be anywhere from mid-August through to the end of October. Nest numbers are already at a record high for this time of year, and colonies are now approaching their maximum size and activity levels. Regular monitoring of honey bee colonies remains essential. August 2025 New sightings this month have been reported in Kent, East Sussex and Greater London in a number of different locations - Hythe had multiple sightings during the month. Nests have been destroyed where it was possible to do so taking the number of discovered nests this year is 24. July 2025 The first confirmed sighting of the yellow-legged Asian hornet in West Sussex was on 6th June in Shoreham. The hornet was seen in a woodpile and a nest was subsequently discovered and destroyed. Sightings of both YLA hornets and nests have continued in Kent with confirmed identification in many locations including Folkstone, Canterbury, Deal and New Romney, but sightings are widespread throughout the county. East Sussex had one sighting taking the total so far this season across the south to 45. Lune Valley BKA has produced an excellent video on the YLAH and has made it available here. The password is Hornet. June 2025 There have been a number of confirmed sightings of the yellow-legged Asian hornet (YLH) in surrounding counties as reported by Defra. The YLH was reported in Sandwich, Kent on 28th April. On 29th of the month a YLH was captured in Broad Oak, Kent in a trap set by the NBU. A sighting was confirmed in Nonington, Kent on 30th taking the number of confirmed sightings this year to 13 although 6 further credible reports were received from APHA soon afterwards. In May there have been sightings in Chatham, Barnham and Shepherdswell in Kent. Closer to home there were sightings in Cliff End, Hastings, East Sussex and Southampton, Hampshire with some of these locations being close to where the NBU is carrying out spring trapping. Additional monitoring traps are planned and YL Asian hornet teams have been asked to monitor. On 20th May there was a further sighting in Canterbury taking the total to 20 sightings this year. | 
