Warning from a Wiltshire council over hornets
Westbury Town Council are asking people to report sightings of a Yellow-Legged Asian Hornet or a nest.
Last updated 2nd Apr 2025
A local town council in Wiltshire have released a warning about an 'aggressive' breed of hornet.
Westbury Town Council say the Yellow-Legged Asian Hornet is a 'highly aggressive predator' and say it poses a significant threat to honey bees and other pollinators in the UK.
The warning comes as it's also revealed today that more than half of UK butterfly species are now in long-term decline.
Last year was the worst on record for the small tortoiseshell, the chalk hill blue and small copper.
The numbers of this destructive hornet rose rapidly in 2023 and more were detected in the UK than in the previous six years combined.
This has continued throughout 2024, although it is still not believed to be firmly established.
At this time of year the queen will now be emerging from hibernation. They'll be searching for sweet carbohydrate-rich food to build up energy to build a primary nest. During construction of the nest, she is alone but she will begin laying eggs to produce the future workforce.
During the summer, a single yellow-legged hornet colony can produce an average of 6000 individuals in one season. From July onwards, yellow-legged hornet predation on honey bee colonies will begin and increase until the end of November.
Westbury Town Council are asking if you spot a Yellow-Legged Asian Hornet or a nest to please report it immediately.
They say it is crucial all possible sightings are reported so experts can take quick and effective action to eradicate Yellow-Legged Asian Hornets and in doing so reduce the risk to our hugely important bee populations.