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Hornets

Reviewed by Colin Harrison, Digital Pest Manager at Anticimex UK ·

What does a hornet look like?

Hornets are larger and heavier than wasps, with brown and yellow colouring rather than a wasp's sharp yellow and black. Their flight has a deeper, louder buzz.

European hornet (Vespa crabro): the native species. Brown and yellow body, a yellow face, brown legs and a long abdomen with yellow bands. Workers are around 2 to 3cm long and queens can reach 3.5cm. Despite their size, European hornets are generally less aggressive than common wasps and rarely sting unless their nest is disturbed.

Asian or yellow-legged hornet (Vespa velutina): slightly smaller than the European hornet, with workers around 2.5cm long. Its body is almost entirely dark, with a single orange band near the end of the abdomen, an orange face and dark legs with yellow tips. Those yellow legs are the easiest feature to spot.

How did the Asian hornet get to the UK?

The yellow-legged hornet is native to Southeast Asia. It reached France in 2004, probably in a shipment of goods, and has since spread across much of western Europe. It was first found in England in 2016, and nests have been found and destroyed most years since.

Sightings have risen sharply. The British Beekeepers Association reports 162 nests found in 2025. In 2026, sightings have no longer been limited to the south coast: according to the British Pest Control Association, the year's first UK sighting was in Doncaster in February, followed by Cambridgeshire in March, an early-season nest in Chesterfield in April and further reports in Kent, Hampshire and Surrey. Wales recorded its first confirmed find, near Wrexham, in January 2026.

Hornet vs wasp: what's the difference?

Size is the quickest way to tell: hornets are noticeably larger than common or German wasps, with a heavier body, duller brown and yellow colouring and a louder buzz. Both have a narrow waist and both can sting, but hornets are usually less inclined to sting unless their nest is threatened, whereas common wasps are more easily provoked. For more on wasp identification, including how wasps differ from bees, see our guide to wasps in the UK.

Are hornets dangerous?

For most people, a European hornet sting is similar to a wasp sting: painful, with swelling that fades within a day or two. The exception is anyone allergic to stings. Call 999 if someone has swelling of the face, lips or throat, difficulty breathing, dizziness or a widespread rash after a sting. The NHS page on insect bites and stings covers treatment for ordinary stings.

Asian hornets are not more venomous than European hornets or wasps, and they don't seek people out. Like any hornet, they will defend a nest that's disturbed. The main threat they pose is to pollinators: they hunt honeybees and other insects, often hovering outside beehives to catch returning bees. This is why the UK treats every sighting as a biosecurity issue rather than a routine pest problem.

From our technicians

[COLIN: one or two sentences, for example how often Anticimex UK gets calls about suspected Asian hornets that turn out to be European hornets or wasps, and what he tells callers. Real observation only.]

What to do if you see a hornet

European hornet: nests away from the house, in trees or hedges, can usually be left alone. If a nest is in or near your home and causing a problem, don't try to remove it yourself. Arrange professional nest treatment.

Suspected Asian hornet: don't approach, treat or disturb the nest. If you can do so safely, take a photo, then report it to the GB Non-Native Species Secretariat using the online form or the free Asian Hornet Watch app. The National Bee Unit, part of the Animal and Plant Health Agency, follows up reports and destroys confirmed nests. This is not a job for a private pest control booking.

Frequently asked questions about hornets

What's the difference between a hornet and a wasp?

Hornets are larger, with a heavier, brown and yellow body and a louder buzz. Wasps are smaller, bright yellow and black, and more easily provoked into stinging.

Are hornets dangerous?

For most people, a European hornet sting is comparable to a wasp sting: painful but not serious, unless the person has a sting allergy. Asian hornets are no more dangerous to people. The concern is the threat they pose to honeybees and other pollinators.

How do I report an Asian hornet?

Use the free Asian Hornet Watch app or the online form on the GB Non-Native Species Secretariat website. Include a photo if you can take one safely. Many reports turn out to be native insects, and a clear photo lets experts confirm or rule out an Asian hornet quickly.

Where have Asian hornets been found in the UK?

Most finds have been in southern England, particularly Kent, but 2026 sightings have also come from Yorkshire, Cambridgeshire, the East Midlands and north Wales. The BBKA incursion map and the National Bee Unit publish the latest confirmed locations.

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