Yellow Legged Hornet

The Yellow Legged Hornet, also known as the Asian Hornet, was accidentally introduced into Europe from its native Asia in around 2004.  It is an invasive, non-native species and poses a threat to our natural population of honey bees and other species of insect pollinators. It is understood that Yellow Legged Hornets are able to eat up to 50 honey bees per day.

If you think you have seen a Yellow Legged Hornet, you must try and take a clear photograph of it safely and report it to the Biological Records Centre:
Biological Records Centre UK

You can also find out more about the Yellow Legged Hornet here:
National Bee Unit

To see more up to date information around confirmed sightings in the UK in 2026, please visit: YLAH 2026 Rolling Update  

For those of you using your Gard ‘Apis traps, you should now be using the orange end cones, as this is the entrance that captures the worker yellow legged hornets.  The red cones should be used in spring and autumn to capture the queens.

If you have run out of lure/bait the use of watered-down jam works just as well, any flavour will do. It has been decided that beer, cider, or other alcoholic drink also will work, but that seems rather wasteful. Basically, anything that attracts wasps will attract YLH.