Photograph credit: Chris Green
On the 20th and 21st of March the National Bee Unit received credible reports of lone Asian hornets. The first was in Preston, Lancashire at a warehouse with regular trucks arriving from France. A bee inspector attended, set traps and is monitoring the location with support from the local beekeeper.
The second credible report was a dead Asian hornet found in Romford, East London. The specimen was collected by an NBU inspector and sent to the lab at Fera Science Ltd for official confirmation.
Please report sightings of Vespa velutina using the Asian hornet Watch app for Apple devices android devices or online form.
Please direct all media enquiries to Defra Press Office.