Have you found a hornet?

Identifying hornets

Is this a hornet?

The UK is home to one native hornet: the European hornet. Here's how to tell apart these hornets from invasive Asian hornets (sightings of which should be reported), and a few similar-looking, but harmless and important UK species - especially the hornet moth and the hornet mimic hoverfly.

European hornet illustration — © Didier Descouens

European hornet (Vespa crabro)

Larger than Asian hornets
Head yellow from front and red from above
Abdomen mostly pale yellow with black stripes
Thorax and legs black/ reddish brown

Asian hornet (Vespa velutina)

Smaller than native hornets
Orange head (from front)
Abdomen almost entirely dark, with fine yellow stripes and a yellow or orange 4th segment near the base
Black or brown thorax
Legs with yellow tips

All Asian hornet sightings should be reported. More information below.

What looks like a hornet?

Some other insects have cottoned on to the fact that these striped predators inspire fear, and use this to their advantage by copying them in appearance; a clever strategy to give the impression of danger, while in fact being completely harmless!

Giant horntail (Urocerus gigas)

More elongate appearance than hornet
The proportionately smaller-looking head is black with a yellow patch on each side
The end of the abdomen has a strong yellow spike (females also have a long ovipositor)

Hornet moth (Sesia apiformis)

Hornet moths (pictured) and the similar Lunar hornet moth are clearwing moths - a group known for their mimicry of hymenoptera (a group of insects that includes bees, ants and wasps). A second glance reveals some giveaway features:

Furry body
Two pairs of boldly outlined wings
Small eyes
Lack of a defined 'waist'

Hornet mimic hoverfly (Volucella zonaria)

'Waist' less defined than in wasps and hornets
Yellow and brown bands on abdomen
One pair of wings
Antennae short and stubby
Eyes large and round and prominently visible from above

Asian hornets

The non-native Asian predatory wasp, Vespa velutina (also known as the Asian hornet), is an invasive species from Asia. In September 2016, the National Bee Unit confirmed a sighting of the Asian hornet in the Tetbury area of Gloucestershire - this is the first time the hornet has been discovered in the UK. Further UK sightings were made in 2017 and 2018, most recently in Cornwall.

What's the problem?

Preying on insects, including honey bees and other pollinators, it is a significant threat to bee colonies, and other native species in the UK. They are most likely to be seen near bee hives, preying on bees defending the hive.

How did they get here?

The hornet can be accidentally imported through goods such as timber, soil, fruit, potted plants, cut flowers, though it is most likely to found in the southern parts of England as it cannot survive the colder climates in the north of the UK. Its active months are between April and November, though they're most active in August/September.