Asian Hornet

In this section:

Summary of potential impacts

The Asian hornet is a predator of honeybees, wasps, other pollinators such as bumblebees, hoverflies and spiders, which it uses primarily to feed its larvae. These prey are important for pollination of crops as well as wild flora and disruptions to their populations may have serious impacts on biodiversity and pollination services.

Asian hornet will also sting people but in general, the sting is no worse than a sting from any bee or wasp in Ireland. The reaction experienced by people from their sting varies – as it does with wasp or bee stings – from most commonly a mild localized hive like throbbing swelling to more rarely, a severe reaction of anaphylaxis.

What should I do and who to contact?

Become familiar with the identification features of Asian hornet

Report suspected sightings in Ireland with a photograph through this online form https://invasives.ie/asianhornetreporter or the ArcGIS Survey123 App.

Report suspected sightings in Northern Ireland via: The Asian Hornet Watch app; the CEDaR online recording form; at iRecord or call the Non-Native Invasive Species Team at the Northern Ireland Environment Agency – Tel: 028 9056 9558

If you are travelling to countries with established populations of Asian hornet please be mindful to check your belongings and vehicles before returning for any possible ‘hitchhiker’ species. In Europe, Asian hornet is present in many countries including France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain and some of the Channel islands and is spreading rapidly. See the DAFM Don’t Risk it Campaign.

It is important that there should not be an over-reaction to sightings of other large insects such as wood wasps and native social wasps. It is imperative other species are not targeted, disrupted or destroyed on foot of this discovery of one Asian hornet individual.

Additional Resources:

Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine (DAFM) Asian hornet Information sheet

Referenced species account for Asian hornet: https://species.biodiversityireland.ie/profile.php?taxonId=187087&taxonName=vespa%20velutina

Asian hornet New Fact sheet posters 2.9.21 and Life History infographic produced by the Atlantic+ve project

Invasive Species Ireland Asian hornet species account and further resources: http://invasivespeciesireland.com/species-accounts/potential/terrestrial/asian-hornet 

Up-dates on Asian hornet news from the UK can be accessed from: www.gov.uk/government/publications/asian-hornet-uk-sightings

Dillane E, Hayden R, O’Hanlon A, Butler F, Harrison S (2022) The first recorded occurrence of the Asian hornet (Vespa velutina) in Ireland, genetic evidence for a continued single invasion across Europe. Journal of Hymenoptera Research 93: 131–138. https://doi.org/10.3897/jhr.93.91209

Detailed assessment of the risk of Asian hornet to Ireland (July 2023). It concluded the overall risk of Asian hornet to Ireland as LOW with a medium level of confidence. See: https://invasives.ie/app/uploads/2021/05/Irish-V.-velutrina_RiskAssessment_July2023_V1.pdf. It is important to note that if/as the status of Asian hornet occurrences in Great Britain changes, then that information will need to be considered in further version of the Asian hornet risk assessment.