Spring trapping to take place in the Caergwrle area, near Wrexham in Wales
Following the finding of a dead yellow-legged hornet nest in the Caergwrle area, near Wrexham, the Welsh Government (WG) has asked the National Bee Unit (NBU) to undertake local targeted Spring trapping. They will place selective traps within a 5km radius around the site. It is important to carry out trapping in a way that minimises the impact on non-target, native insects (bycatch). To reduce the risk of bycatch, the NBU will be using Vespa Catch Select traps, which will be checked regularly. (Please note, this is not an endorsement of a particular trap, other traps are available from other manufacturers and trap design is evolving all the time.) Trapping will commence in mid-April until the end of June. However, if sightings of yellow-legged hornet are confirmed during this period, and evidence supports the likelihood of worker activity, the NBU will switch to outbreak response and will commence actions to find and destroy nests. This is considered to be the most effective control mechanism against the yellow-legged hornet.
At this stage, Welsh Government is not committing to wider or routine Spring trapping across Wales. Future decisions will be based on the pattern of any further nests, the developing evidence, and expert advice. Our approach will remain precautionary, proportionate, and led by the best available science and evidence.
We rely on beekeepers and members of the public to report and provide a photo of suspected sightings of yellow -legged hornet using this online form or the free Asian Hornet Watch app for Apple devices or Android devices. To highlight that YLH have been found in Wales, WG has produced a new leaflet, Yellow-legged hornet: what to look out for | GOV.WALES.
Yellow-legged Asian Hornet Teams play a very important role in a response and WG and the NBU would like to thank them for their continued efforts. We would welcome and strongly encourage all associations in Wales to establish teams if they have not done so already. Having a network of teams across Wales, working in partnership with the NBU, to report sightings of yellow-legged hornets and to heighten awareness of the hornets in communities will help us stop this invasive insect from spreading. For more details on the use of selective traps and monitoring stations for yellow-legged hornet monitoring, please view the fact sheet on yellow-legged hornet monitoring (please note there are now newer versions of some of the traps pictured available).