Asian Hornet Nest Found in Somerset Highlights Growing UK Threat

A beekeeper in Ashcott, near Street, spotted an Asian hornet near his hives and alerted local responders. The hornet was tagged, leading teams to a bramble patch in a woodland clearing where the nest was destroyed. It is the 53rd nest recorded in England this year, following 163 nests identified in 2025. Lynne Ingram, head of Somerset’s Asian Hornet Action Team, said the find underscores a race against time to eradicate nests before queen hornets mate and hibernate next month.

The IndependentThe Guardian

The yellow-legged Asian hornet, native to southeast Asia, was first detected in the UK in 2016. Since then, sightings have clustered in Kent, East Sussex and increasingly in southern counties. The species entered France via Chinese pottery cargo about 20 years ago and now spans northern Spain, the Channel Islands, Belgium, the Netherlands and southern England. In 2025 the National Bee Unit (NBU) destroyed a record 161 nests, while genetic analysis of 2024 nests confirmed queens surviving winter and establishing new colonies.

The Guardian

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Welsh government maintain a contingency plan that relies on destroying nests promptly. Volunteer teams from the British Beekeepers Association (BBKA) confirm sightings, track nests and conduct spring queen-trapping. The NBU oversees nest destruction, and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is testing radio transmitters and an AI system (VespAI) to locate hornets more efficiently. Public participation is critical: nearly 30,000 reports in 2024 led to the identification of 24 nests.

The Guardian

Asian hornets prey on honeybees, bumblebees and butterflies, creating “pollinator deserts” that threaten food security and the agricultural economy. A single queen can consume about 11.3 kg of insects—roughly 90,000 bugs—per season, severely damaging local ecosystems and posing a sting risk to allergy sufferers.

The Guardian

• 53rd nest found in Somerset this year; 163 nests recorded in 2025.

The Independent

• 161 nests destroyed by the NBU in 2025 (record).

The Guardian

• 30,000 public reports in 2024 yielded 24 confirmed nests.

The Guardian

• Each queen consumes ~11.3 kg of insects (?90,000 bugs) per season.

The Independent

• “The nest was found in a bramble patch in a clearing in a woodland in Ashcott,” — Ms Ingram, head of Somerset's Asian Hornet Action Team

The Independent

• “Yellow-legged hornets cause significant damage to native pollinators, including our much-loved honeybees,” — Kate Wilson

The Guardian

• “Asian hornets leave behind pollinator deserts, with a serious impact on food security and agricultural economy,” — Lucie Chaumeton

The Guardian

• “The National Bee Unit’s response is extremely effective. But this relies entirely on members of the public reporting sightings.” — Lucie Chaumeton

The Guardian

• “We need a clear multi-year commitment from successive governments that eradication will continue,” — Chaumeton. Wilson

The Guardian