Asian hornet populations are set to surge in Britain as the country faces another of its hottest years on record.

These invasive predators pose a severe threat to native British wildlife. A single Asian hornet can consume around 11 kg of insects in a season, with honeybees making up roughly a third of its diet and the remainder comprising key pollinators like moths, flies, butterflies, and wild bees.

First spotted in the UK in 2016, Asian hornets reached a worrying milestone last year when experts confirmed they had successfully survived a British winter for the first time. Since the first nest was destroyed a decade ago, the total count in Britain has soared to 162—up dramatically from just 24 in 2024. Because a single nest can yield dozens of queens, missing just one can lead to 30 new nests the following year.

What makes 2026 particularly alarming is the rapid escalation in both sightings and geographic reach. Native to Southeast Asia, the hornets have expanded north across Europe, driven by warming temperatures. While primarily concentrated in southern and south-eastern England—often hitching rides across the Channel in vehicles and fruit shipments—they are steadily advancing north, evidenced by a nest discovered in Runcorn, Cheshire, late last year.

Addressing the threat requires public vigilance rather than standard pest control. Natalie Bungay, head of membership and technical at the British Pest Control Association (BPCA), emphasized:

“Pest controllers can’t simply treat Asian hornets right now; it’s all about recognition, identification, and reporting to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). While we can’t exterminate them directly, we play a crucial role in spotting them. The public can use the official Asian Hornet Watch app to report sightings, which are then investigated by the National Bee Unit.”