National Bee Unit locates first Asian hornet nest on Isle of Wight

The National Bee Unit has successfully located the first nest of the invasive yellow-legged Asian hornet on the Isle of Wight. The nest, found high in an oak tree, was identified following a coordinated tracking operation. The search was initiated after a member of the public reported a sighting via the Asian Hornet Watch app. Experts used radio trackers attached to individual hornets to follow their movements back to the nest.

While the nest will be destroyed and analyzed to determine the colony's development, officials note that the species poses a significant threat to bee populations. Although total sightings and nests reported in the UK have decreased compared to the previous year, the discovery of nests across a wider geographic area—including Kent, Norfolk, and Yorkshire—has raised concerns among local groups that the species may be becoming established in the South East.