Wasps
Hornet nest: what to do and when to report it
A European hornet nest can usually stay where it is: the hornet is a common native species that is unlikely to sting if left alone (Wildlife Trusts), and its colony dies out before winter (NHM). An Asian hornet nest is different: do not go near it or disturb it, and report it straight away with the Asian Hornet Watch app, the online form or by email, so the National Bee Unit can deal with it (GOV.UK).
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Key facts
- European hornets nest in hollow trees or cavities in buildings and are seen from May to November (Wildlife Trusts).
- Every suspected Asian hornet sighting or nest should be reported, with a photo if you can take one safely (GOV.UK).
- The National Bee Unit follows up credible reports; nests are found and destroyed by the authorities, not by you (GOV.UK, APHA).
- Hornets build a new nest each year, so an old nest is not used again (NHM).
Is it a hornet nest or a wasp nest?
Look at the insects flying in and out rather than at the nest: European hornets are up to 3.5 cm long and brown and yellow, common and German wasps are up to 2 cm and yellow and black (Wildlife Trusts), and Asian hornets are very dark with yellow leg ends (GOV.UK). Watch from a safe distance and, if you can, take a photo with your phone zoomed in. For a nest of ordinary wasps, see how to get rid of wasps and a wasp nest.
Where do European hornets build their nest?
Usually in hollow trees or in cavities in buildings, such as a wall void, a loft or a shed: the queen makes the paper nest by chewing wood (Wildlife Trusts). Like other social wasps, a new nest is started each spring by a single queen after her winter rest (NHM).
Should you leave a European hornet nest alone?
Yes, if it is not in the way: the European hornet is much less aggressive than the common wasp and unlikely to sting if left alone (Wildlife Trusts). Its colony and the males die out before winter and only the new queens survive to hibernate elsewhere (NHM), so the problem solves itself by autumn. Keep children and pets away from the entrance and do not block it.
Who can deal with a hornet nest that is in the way?
A trained pest controller: BPCA advises treating a nest only if it poses a risk to health and safety, and recommends a professional with the right products and protective equipment rather than any DIY method. BPCA lists its member companies at bpca.org.uk/find. Some councils treat wasp nests for a fee; ask your council whether that includes hornets. An Asian hornet nest is never a job for a private pest controller alone: report it first (GOV.UK).
Should you report an Asian hornet nest in the UK?
Yes: the government asks everyone to report suspected Asian hornets and their nests straight away (GOV.UK). The species is invasive and preys on honeybees, which make up around 40 % of its diet (APHA). Reporting is free.
How do you report an Asian hornet nest?
Use one of three routes, with a photo if you can take one safely (GOV.UK):
- The Asian Hornet Watch app, free for iPhone and Android.
- The online report form on iRecord.
- Email to alertnonnative@ceh.ac.uk.
Without a photo, give enough detail for the report to be credible: a good description, where the nest is and what the hornets were doing (GOV.UK).
What happens after you report an Asian hornet nest?
Experts check every report: credible reports with a photo go to the National Bee Unit of APHA, and credible reports without one to volunteer teams of the British Beekeepers Association (GOV.UK, APHA). When a nest is found, the hornets are killed and the nest is removed and sent for testing (APHA). In 2023, 72 nests were found and destroyed in this way, most of them in Kent (GOV.UK).
How close can you get to a hornet nest?
Not close: keep away from an Asian hornet nest and do not disturb it, because it may be defended if the hornets feel threatened (GOV.UK). With a European hornet nest, stay calm, do not swat and keep your distance from the entrance (Wildlife Trusts). If you are stung and the lips, mouth, throat or tongue swell or breathing becomes difficult, call 999 straight away (NHS).
Do hornets use the same nest again?
No: social wasps, hornets included, build a new nest every year, started by a single queen after the winter (NHM). An empty nest you find in winter can be left or taken down.
What should you do about an ordinary wasp nest?
Leave it if it is not in the way, and have it treated by a pest controller or your council if it is: our guide explains how to get rid of a wasp nest safely, what councils charge and what to do with a nest in the ground. To prevent a new nest next year, check the loft, shed and eaves in spring and hang a fake wasp nest by the patio before the queens choose a site. The idea behind it: a queen prefers not to start next to an existing colony. It is meant for common wasps, not for hornets.
Sources: GOV.UK, Chief Plant Health Officer urges increased Asian hornet vigilance (20 May 2024) and New app to report Asian hornet sightings; APHA Science blog, Yellow-legged hornet monitoring and eradication in the UK (15 May 2025); The Wildlife Trusts, Hornet and Common wasp; Natural History Museum (NHM), What do wasps do? and Are murder hornets really as scary as they sound?; British Pest Control Association (BPCA), Worried about wasps?; NHS, Insect bites and stings.
