Asian hornets
- Thread starter ILuvCowparsely
- Start date
![20240607_211059[1].jpg](https://horseandhound-data.community.forum/attachments/115/115363-d5d27346d0242011c4ac471358474f6a.jpg)
shortstuff99
Well-Known Member
Clodagh
Well-Known Member
I’m no expert but is that definitely an Asian hornet? We have a lot of the ‘normal’ ones, who just look like wasps on steroids.
ElleSkywalkingintheair
As excited as Kitty about to be a bridesmaid
That looks more like a European one or a queen wasp to me from what I can see, the Asian ones have more black on them and only a small band of yellow lower down the body.
MereChristmas
riding reluctantly into the sunset
Is this useful?
Asian Hornet Action Team… identification
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Asian Hornet Action Team… identification
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ILuvCowparsely
Well-Known Member
Can't say for sure, but seen two of these today, deep deep buzzing sound like zzz zzzz zzz zzz. No queen wasp def wing span was big. Not seen anything like it was about 2 inches+ long
greasedweasel
Well-Known Member
Obviously it is now soggy but I don't think it is an Asian Hornet either - however if you do think you've seen one please do report it on the App - details here - https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-app-to-report-asian-hornet-sightings
If you do see one, best not to kill it, makes track and trace (to the nest) difficult
Edited to add - Please DO report any sightings!!!
If you do see one, best not to kill it, makes track and trace (to the nest) difficult
Edited to add - Please DO report any sightings!!!
Glitter's fun
Well-Known Member
According to this, asian hornets are smaller than the native ones and mostly black with only a thin yellow stripe on the body,
www.wildlifetrusts.org
Have you found a hornet? | The Wildlife Trusts
How to identify a hornet, and recognise the non-native Asian hornet
www.wildlifetrusts.org
Bobthecob15
Well-Known Member
We had one in the house the other day, the cat brought it in! But it was a European one, I checked the pics on google 
Fjord
Well-Known Member
I think the Asian hornets have yellow legs and more black on them.
I've seen 2 European hornets this year, I don't think I've seen one before. Bloody great things!
I've seen 2 European hornets this year, I don't think I've seen one before. Bloody great things!
MereChristmas
riding reluctantly into the sunset
Of use?
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sunnyone
Well-Known Member
Do NOT get near an Asian hornet's nest!
Here in France we had some nest in a hedgerow but we're unaware of them until my OH innocently tractor mowed the grass nearby. He was stung 29 times, and was very lucky not to need hospital treatment. He did pass out with the pain and need medication. This was despite wearing long trousers, long sleeves, sun hat and sunglasses.
Our advice: once located get a professional out to destroy the nest. Off the shelf products aren't good enough.
Here in France we had some nest in a hedgerow but we're unaware of them until my OH innocently tractor mowed the grass nearby. He was stung 29 times, and was very lucky not to need hospital treatment. He did pass out with the pain and need medication. This was despite wearing long trousers, long sleeves, sun hat and sunglasses.
Our advice: once located get a professional out to destroy the nest. Off the shelf products aren't good enough.
twiggy2
Well-Known Member
Doesn't look like a hornet to me from that photo
Clodagh
Well-Known Member
But if they are European please don’t kill them.
I was watching one hunt our bank the other day, ignoring the dogs who were grazing.
And in autumn they hunt the wasps in the apple trees, fantastic to watch.
Spotherisk
Well-Known Member
They’ve just started coming in the house here again this year… not Asian ones, but the European ones are quite bad enough! There was evidently a big nest in the neighbours woods a few years ago, it got quite out of hand at night as they are very happy to fly towards to lights when it’s dark and you think you’re safe from flying stingy things! I’m afraid OH made it his mission not to come back in the house one evening until he’d killed 50 - he just stood by the outside light and used a can of Raid. Yes it’s not a great solution and killing them for the sake of it wasn’t done lightly but it knocked the population back and meant we didn’t have to spend our evenings indoors with all the windows shut, and with hornets crashing into the glass demented by the lights.
One evening OH had light the bathroom light on and window open and there was 8 of them in there!
One evening OH had light the bathroom light on and window open and there was 8 of them in there!
blitznbobs
Well-Known Member
That’s not an Asian hornet it has black legs - Asian hornets have yellow legs (bee keeping is a hobby of mine)
Cavalous Christmas
Well-Known Member
I think that’s a European Hornet. The Asian hornet has yellow legs. I’ll find a picture
Cavalous Christmas
Well-Known Member
Me too. Sorry I hadn’t read all the posts
nettle
Well-Known Member
I have read that European hornets will kill Asian hornets, so please leave the European ones to get on with that 
First year beekeeper here. It’s every bit as complicated as horses but slightly cheaper.
First year beekeeper here. It’s every bit as complicated as horses but slightly cheaper.
cremedemonthe
Well-Known Member
Friend of mine, a farmer in West Sussex, was undoing the back of a lorry on his farm. Unknown to him it had a hornets nest in the back.
He'd reversed his old smoky petrol land rover up to the lorry to unload something off it in to the landy. It was ticking over which masked the sound of the buzzing hornets.
It was a warm day and he was wearing a shirt with his mobile phone in his top pocket.
The first he knew about the hornet's nest was a searing pain in his neck. Realising what was happening and he'd been stung he started running to get his bee keeping suit out of the landy so he could deal with them.
He took 2 steps and down he went, the venom (the 50mg or ml, not sure which, that is in a hornet) had paralysed his legs. To make matters worse, he now found himself under the smokey old exhaust of the ancient landy. Gasping for air he reached for his phone but the fall had catapulted the phone out of his top pocket and was 6 feet away out of his reach.
He dragged himself over with his arms which luckily were still working
He remembers calling an ambulance then next thing he woke up in hospital. He now has to carry an epipen.
He said, he's used to being stung by his bees and that old farmhands he had met out in France told him, 2 hornet stings can kill you, 3 can kill a horse.He now knows from experience they could be right if a person is allergic to them. I avoid hornets like the plague after he shared his story. They can be very dangerous.
He'd reversed his old smoky petrol land rover up to the lorry to unload something off it in to the landy. It was ticking over which masked the sound of the buzzing hornets.
It was a warm day and he was wearing a shirt with his mobile phone in his top pocket.
The first he knew about the hornet's nest was a searing pain in his neck. Realising what was happening and he'd been stung he started running to get his bee keeping suit out of the landy so he could deal with them.
He took 2 steps and down he went, the venom (the 50mg or ml, not sure which, that is in a hornet) had paralysed his legs. To make matters worse, he now found himself under the smokey old exhaust of the ancient landy. Gasping for air he reached for his phone but the fall had catapulted the phone out of his top pocket and was 6 feet away out of his reach.
He dragged himself over with his arms which luckily were still working
He remembers calling an ambulance then next thing he woke up in hospital. He now has to carry an epipen.
He said, he's used to being stung by his bees and that old farmhands he had met out in France told him, 2 hornet stings can kill you, 3 can kill a horse.He now knows from experience they could be right if a person is allergic to them. I avoid hornets like the plague after he shared his story. They can be very dangerous.
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