Identification of Asian Hornet Nests

Don’t attempt to remove or control a suspected Asian hornet nest yourself, or spray a possible hornet or nest with insecticide.

It is very important for the National Parks and Wildlife Service to know where the Asian hornet might be active in Ireland.

Improper control of Asian hornet nests risks making it more difficult to keep Ireland free of Asian hornet.

We appreciate that taking photos can be hard, as the hornets are strong flyers, but images are the best method for us to assess the valuable observations made by the public.

If you think you have found a hornet or its nest, take a clear photo and report it.

If you can safely photograph the insects on the surface, then that helps us identify the species very quickly.

We have produced guides to help the public identify possible Asian Hornet or their nests.

Embryo Nests: are built by queens so that they can begin forming a colony and often are the size of a tennis ball. Embryo nests are usually found in early spring.

Primary Nests: are nests built by worker hornets once they emerge from embryo nests. They can be the size of a grapefruit. Primary nests are usually found in early summer.

Secondary Nests: the final stage of an Asian hornet colony, are much larger than embryo and primary nests. These nests, often found atop trees but evidence from Jersey suggests they variety of suitable sites is more diverse. Secondary nests are usually larger than a basketball, typically appear from late summer to autumn.