Asian Hornet catches late summer sun in Cornwall

Last week the National Bee Unit confirmed a sighting of the Asian Hornet in the Fowey area of South Cornwall. This follows sightings earlier this year in Bury, Lancashire, and last year when a nest was destroyed in Woolacombe, North Devon.

As before, surveillance zones have been set-up and bee inspectors tasked with visiting local beekeepers and setting up traps.    

Whilst the UK is still free from the Asian Hornet, the risk remains high, particularly for the south of the country with its warmer, milder climate.      

What does the Asian Hornet look like?

The Asian Hornet has a number of features which make it easy to identify:

• Dark brown abdomen, with a yellow band on the 4^th ‘segment’
• Head dark when viewed from above, or orange from front
• Dark coloured antennae
• Legs yellow at the ends
• Queen up to 30mm long, worker up to 25mm long