Asian hornets (Vespa velutina) cause significant environmental damage and sightings should be reported to the Non-Native Species Secretariat (NNSS) as soon as you can. These hornets are most active between April and November (peaking in  August/September) and are inactive over the winter.
In Jersey, France and large areas of Western Europe they are stripping the environment bare of insects before moving on to prey on managed honeybee colonies. 
If you spot Asian hornets, take some photos and/or capture a specimen and send to the NNSS for identification; if the sighting is positive, the NNSS will trigger further investigations by bee inspectors. 
SBKA has set up an Asian Hornet Action Team (AHAT) led by Lynne Ingram. Initially our AHAT is county-wide with a member from each Division. Later Divisions may wish to develop their own team with information being cascaded down to them. Lynne can be contacted on lynneci@hotmail.co.uk

Asian Hornet - autumn 2018
At this time of the year Asian hornet queens seek to establish new nests before hibernating. A single Asian hornet can kill 50 bees a day, with a nest containing up to 6,000 workers and 200 queens. 
The early autumn is when Asian hornets start hawking honeybees at hive entrances and around pollinator-attracting flowering plants. This is the last chance we have this year to prevent their potentially catastrophic spread across the country. 
Beekeepers are encouraged to spend several one-hour sessions looking out for Asian hornets at their apiaries during fine weather. Pin a 'skirt' around your hives to force Asian hornets to hawk in front of the hive rather than ambushing bees from underneath and see if your bees are under attack. 
Gardeners, conservationists and the public are urged to take part. Take a good look at plants which are in flower and attracting insects such as ivy. The Asian hornet has a distinctive orange face and yellow tipped legs. Take photos if you suspect you've spotted an Asian hornet and email them to the Non-Native Species Secretariat (NNSS).
​#AsianHornetWeek
https://www.bbka.org.uk/asian-hornet-week 
PictureNotice the bright orange face of the Asian hornet, compared to the yellow face of the European hornet (right). Photo courtesy of Jean Haxaire, The French Natural History Museum

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What do they look like?
Asian hornets are rather like large black wasps with a single yellow band, orange face and yellow tipped legs. Queens are up to 30mm long, workers up to 25mm.
Look out for: 
  • thorax velvety black/dark brown 
  • abdominal segments brown with fine yellow band, only the fourth segment is almost entirely yellow-orange
  • legs brown with yellow ends 
  • head black with orange-yellow face
Likely habitat? 
Nests have been found high up in deciduous trees, in hedges and in buildings. 
Picture
The Asian hornet nest discovered low down in a hedge in North Devon in September 2017
What are Somerset Beekeepers doing about the threat posed by Asian hornets?
  • We have set up a county-wide Asian Hornet Action Team comprising beekeepers from each of our 12 Divisions.
  • We have adopted an Asian hornet identification policy. ​
  • We have distributed leaflets to our Divisions to help members and the public to identify Asian hornets.
  • We have distributed Asian hornet ID cards for members to pin in the roofs of their hives to assist with easy identification.
  • We support the work of Dr Pete Kennedy and his colleagues at the University of Exeter who recently published a research paper showing how Asian hornet nests can be found by radio-tracking (see YouTube video below).
  • Some of our members have joined Jersey beekeepers and scientists from Exeter University in Jersey to track Asian hornets back to their nests. [See Members' blog on the homepage]
  • We are raising awareness of the threat Asian hornets pose to honeybees, other insects and the environment with the media, public, Somerset’s MPs and councils.
Picture
Notice the yellow and brown features of the European hornet’s face, compared to the orange and black face of the Asian hornet. Photo courtesy of Jason Learner, National Bee Unit
How to detect Asian hornets
The NBU recommends DIY traps; alternatively traps are available to purchase from beekeeper equipment suppliers. There is ongoing discussion about whether the traps should be set in the Spring when there is a risk of killing our native hornets and other insects. If you do, inspect daily and rescue native insects.
It's recommended that you observe activity carefully around your hives.
The National Bee Unit has added a new feature to BeeBase to help understand UK Asian hornet surveillance. 
Download the Asian hornet app which has photos to assist with identification and can be used to report any sightings:
​Asian Hornet Watch app for iPhone 
Asian Hornet Watch app for Android
And, of course, if you spot a nest don't try and destroy it yourself.  Alert the authorities! ​​
BBC Somerset has been covering SBKA Master Beekeeper Lynne Ingram's trip to Jersey where she is on the front line of battling Asian hornets. She spoke to BBC Somerset's Claire Carter.