People are being urged to report immediately sightings of Asian hornets as the county creeps towards the insects’ ‘peak season’.

There have been six recorded sightings or gathered specimens of the invasive creature in Kent since March while 2023 saw a record number of them being found in the UK.

While the Asian hornet poses no greater risk to human health than native wasps and hornets - they do pose a huge risk to honey bees and insect pollinators.

It has prompted a stark warning this week from the UK’s Chief Plant Health Officer Professor Nicola Spence - who has urged the public and beekeepers to remain vigilant and report any suspected sightings as the UK goes into summer.

Last year the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s National Bee Unit attended every credible sighting reported, locating and destroying 72 nests in 56 locations with the majority of nests found in Kent.

The National Bee Unit remains on standby to respond quickly to any further possible sightings - having already rolled out trapping in areas where there is an increased risk hornet queens may have ‘overwintered’.

Alongside Kent, traps have been set in East Sussex, Devon and North Yorkshire.

Because the creatures are not yet established in the UK trapping, DEFRA explains, can form a key part of surveillance work and fundamental to its eradication efforts

Identifying an Asian hornet

Asian hornets have a distinctive appearance and can be identified by their very dark body, wide orange stripe on the fourth abdomen section and yellow leg ends.

If you suspect you have seen an Asian hornet you should report it using the iPhone and Android app ‘Asian Hornet Watch’ or by using the online report form here. Alternatively, e-mail alertnonnative@ceh.ac.uk.

If you are able to include a photograph please do so only if you can safely obtain one.

It is important, stresses DEFRA, to take care not to approach or disturb a nest.

Asian hornets are not generally aggressive towards people but an exception to this is when they perceive a threat to their nest.

Defra’s Chief Plant and Bee Health Officer Professor Nicola Spence said: “By ensuring we are alerted to possible sightings as early as possible, the public can help us take swift and effective action to stamp out the threat posed by Asian hornets.

“While the Asian hornet poses no greater risk to human health than other wasps or hornets, they can damage honey bee colonies and harm other pollinators.”