Asian Hornet in Ireland: How to Identify It and Report a Sighting

Information updated: 5 August 2026

Until recently, the Asian hornet was a threat that Irish beekeepers watched from a distance. That changed in 2025, when Asian hornets were confirmed in Ireland and two nests were found and destroyed in County Cork.

The good news is that, according to the latest official information available on 5 August 2026, the Asian hornet is not considered established in the Republic of Ireland. There is no confirmed evidence that it has successfully overwintered or formed a self-sustaining population here. Nevertheless, further accidental arrivals remain possible, so early identification and reporting are extremely important.

What is the Asian hornet?

The Asian hornet (Vespa velutina), also known as the yellow-legged hornet, is a predatory wasp native to Asia. It was accidentally introduced into France in 2004 and has since spread through much of western Europe.

Asian hornets prey on many different insects. Honeybees are particularly vulnerable because a beehive provides a large and predictable source of prey. A hornet may hover outside the hive entrance and catch returning bees in flight, a hunting method commonly described as “hawking”.

Persistent hunting can make a honeybee colony reluctant to forage. This reduces the amount of pollen and nectar entering the hive and places the colony under considerable stress.

Honeybees are not the only insects affected. Asian hornets also prey on bumblebees, solitary bees, hoverflies, wasps and other insects. If the species became established in Ireland, it could affect wild pollinators and the wider environment as well as managed honeybee colonies.

The Asian hornet should not be confused with the much larger Asian giant hornet, which has sometimes been called the “murder hornet” in news reports. They are different species.

Is the Asian hornet established in Ireland?

No. As of 5 August 2026, the Asian hornet is not considered established in the Republic of Ireland.

The first confirmed Irish record was a single dying hornet found in a garage in Dublin in April 2021. In 2025, a single hornet was also recorded in Dublin, but subsequent monitoring found no evidence of a nest in the area.

There were 36 verified Asian hornet sightings in the Republic of Ireland during 2025. Most were associated with two nests subsequently found in Cork City and Cobh. The figure does not represent 36 separate colonies, or necessarily 36 individual hornets, as the same colony can produce numerous sightings.

The Cork City nest was destroyed in early September 2025, followed shortly afterwards by the nest in Cobh. Both nests were examined, and further genetic analysis was completed in 2026.

The analysis found that:

The Cork City nest was highly unlikely to have produced adult males or future queens.
The Cobh nest may have produced a small number of potential future queens.
The likelihood of more than a small number of mated queens surviving the winter was considered very low.
The hornets caught near the Cork City and Cobh nests were consistent with having come from those nests.
There was no genetic evidence of additional undetected nests in the surrounding areas.

No successful overwintering or new colony arising from either Cork nest has been confirmed. No Asian hornet sightings or nests had been officially confirmed in the Republic of Ireland during 2026 at the time this article was updated.

The current Irish position and any future developments can be checked on the Asian hornet section of Invasives.ie.

What happened in Northern Ireland?

A further nest was found at Dundonald in County Down and destroyed on 18 October 2025. Because it was removed later in the season, it had progressed further than either of the Cork nests.

Genetic analysis showed that the Dundonald nest had produced adult males and had probably started producing potential future queens. However, as of 5 August 2026, there was no official confirmation that a queen from this nest had survived the winter and established a new colony.

There is therefore no confirmed evidence of an established, self-sustaining Asian hornet population anywhere on the island of Ireland, although continued monitoring remains essential.

How to identify an Asian hornet

Colour and pattern are generally more useful than size alone. Perspective can make an insect in a photograph look much larger than it really is, while several harmless insects are regularly mistaken for hornets.

Look for the following combination of features:

A mostly black or very dark brown body
A dark, velvety-looking thorax
A mainly dark abdomen with one broad orange or yellow-orange band towards the rear
An orange or yellow-orange tip to the abdomen
Legs that are dark near the body and distinctly yellow at the ends
An orange face when viewed from the front
Workers generally measuring about 17 to 25 millimetres, with queens reaching approximately 30 millimetres

The yellow ends of the legs are particularly helpful, which explains the alternative name “yellow-legged hornet”. From a reasonable distance, the insect may appear almost black, with a single orange abdominal band and bright yellow “socks”.

Do not rely on one feature alone. Poor light can hide the abdominal band, and other insects may have yellow markings on their legs. Try to look at the overall combination and take a clear photograph.

Insects commonly mistaken for an Asian hornet

Many reported sightings turn out to be other insects. That should not discourage anyone from reporting a reasonable suspicion, but it helps to know the most common lookalikes.

Common wasp

The common wasp has repeated bright yellow and black markings along its abdomen. An Asian hornet is much darker overall, with one broad orange band towards the rear and yellow tips to its legs.

Giant Woodwasp

The giant Woodwasp can be considerably larger than an Asian hornet and has striking yellow and black colouring. A female may have a prominent projection at the rear. Despite its alarming appearance, it is not a hornet and does not sting people.

Hoverflies

Several hoverflies resemble bees or wasps. They tend to have large eyes, short antennae and only one pair of wings. Hoverflies have no sting and are important pollinators.

Horseflies

A large, dark horsefly can resemble a hornet in a blurred photograph. Horseflies have very large eyes and a broad, fly-like head. They do not have the narrow waist, long antennae and yellow-tipped legs of an Asian hornet.

Honeybees

A honeybee is smaller, hairier and normally brown or golden-brown. It does not have the Asian hornet’s mostly black body, broad orange abdominal band and yellow-tipped legs.

The official Asian Hornet Alert poster contains photographs and useful comparisons with insects commonly mistaken for it.

Where might an Asian hornet be seen?

Beekeepers should pay particular attention to the area immediately in front of hive entrances. An Asian hornet hunting honeybees may hover facing the hive, dart after a returning forager and then fly away carrying its prey.

One large wasp passing through an apiary is not proof of anything. Repeated hovering, hunting or the interception of returning bees deserves closer observation.

Asian hornets may also be seen:

Feeding on flowers that attract large numbers of insects
Visiting ripe or fallen fruit
Around fermenting fruit juice or other sources of sugar
Taking protein from fish, meat, carrion or food waste
Near trees, hedges, sheds and buildings where nests may be concealed

Queens emerge and begin nesting in spring. Worker numbers increase through the summer, with colonies reaching their greatest size in late summer and autumn.

What does an Asian hornet nest look like?

A queen begins by constructing a small embryo nest. This develops into a primary nest, which may be found in a shed, roof space or another sheltered location. At this stage, nests made by different species of wasp can look very similar. A small paper nest cannot be identified as an Asian hornet nest unless the insects using it are also seen.

Later in the year, a colony may construct a much larger secondary nest. This is often pear-shaped and may reach approximately 60 centimetres in width and 80 centimetres in height. The entrance is normally on the side of the nest rather than at the bottom.

Secondary nests are frequently built high in trees, although they may also occur in hedges or on and inside buildings.

Never walk underneath or approach a suspected nest to examine it. If it can be viewed safely from a considerable distance, use binoculars or a zoom lens. A photograph of the insects entering or leaving will usually be more useful than a photograph of the nest alone.

How to report a suspected Asian hornet in Ireland

You do not have to be certain before submitting a report. A clear photograph and an accurate location allow specialists to examine the evidence. A mistaken report can be ruled out, while an unreported Asian hornet could allow a nest to remain undetected.

If you see a suspected Asian hornet:

Keep a safe distance. Do not strike at it, chase it or try to catch it.
Take a photograph or short video if it is safe. Try to show the insect’s body, legs and abdominal markings.
Record the exact location. A map pin, phone coordinates or Eircode is more useful than a town or townland name alone.
Note the date, time and behaviour. Mention whether it was feeding, hovering near a hive, entering a nest or flying repeatedly in one direction.
Submit the report promptly through the official Asian Hornet Reporter. Include the photograph or video if possible.

A social media post or message to a local beekeeper is not a substitute for an official report. A local beekeeping association may help assess a photograph, but a credible sighting should still be submitted through the national reporting system.

Suspected sightings in Northern Ireland should be reported through the Asian Hornet Watch app, the CEDaR recording system or by calling the Northern Ireland Environment Agency’s Non-Native Invasive Species Team on 028 9056 9558.

What not to do

The safest and most useful response is to photograph, record and report. Do not attempt to destroy a suspected Asian hornet or nest yourself.

Do not disturb a suspected nest. Asian hornets are not generally aggressive away from their nest, but a colony may defend its nest vigorously.
Do not knock down, burn, spray or block a nest. Nest destruction requires trained personnel and suitable protective equipment.
Do not attempt to catch a live hornet. A photograph is normally safer and more useful.
Do not kill an insect simply because it is large or unfamiliar. Several harmless and beneficial insects are mistaken for Asian hornets.
Do not put out indiscriminate homemade traps. These can kill native wasps, flies and other beneficial insects without providing effective control.
Do not wait for complete certainty before reporting. Early reports give the authorities the best chance of finding and destroying a nest.

Should beekeepers put out traps?

Widespread trapping by individual beekeepers and members of the public is not currently recommended in Ireland. Poorly designed or indiscriminate traps can kill large numbers of native insects while catching few, if any, Asian hornets.

Official monitoring traps may be used in particular locations as part of a coordinated response. Beekeepers should follow the latest advice from the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the National Biodiversity Data Centre and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

What beekeepers should watch for

Spend a few minutes observing the entrance of each hive before beginning an inspection. Watch for any large, dark insect repeatedly hovering, intercepting returning bees or carrying prey away.

A colony’s reluctance to forage can have many causes and is not proof of Asian hornet activity. However, if the bees are clustering defensively at the entrance while dark, yellow-legged hornets hover nearby, take photographs and submit a report immediately.

It is also worth watching flowering ivy, fallen fruit and other insect-rich feeding sites near the apiary. Keeping a phone or camera within reach can make the difference between an uncertain description and a useful record.

Why early reporting matters

The response in Cork during 2025 demonstrated the value of public vigilance. Reports supported by photographs helped specialists locate the two nests, both of which were destroyed before an established population could be confirmed.

Ireland still has a realistic opportunity to respond to Asian hornet arrivals before the species becomes widespread. That depends on beekeepers and members of the public recognising its main features and reporting credible sightings quickly.

Remember the most useful identification signs: a mostly dark body, one broad orange band towards the rear, yellow tips to the legs and an orange face. If an insect appears to match that combination, keep your distance, take a photograph and submit an official report.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Asian hornets established in Ireland?

No. According to the latest official information available on 5 August 2026, the Asian hornet is not considered established in the Republic of Ireland. There is no confirmed evidence of successful overwintering or a self-sustaining population.

Were Asian hornet nests found in Ireland?

Yes. Two nests were found in County Cork during 2025, one in Cork City and the other in Cobh. Both were destroyed in September 2025. A third nest was found and destroyed at Dundonald in County Down in October 2025.

Were any Asian hornets found in Ireland during 2026?

No sightings or nests had been officially confirmed in the Republic of Ireland during 2026 at the time this article was updated on 5 August 2026.

Are Asian hornets dangerous to people?

An individual Asian hornet is not normally aggressive when away from its nest, but it can sting if provoked. A nest may be defended by many hornets and should never be approached or disturbed.

Anyone who develops difficulty breathing, swelling of the mouth or throat, dizziness or another serious reaction after a sting should seek urgent medical assistance.

What is the easiest way to recognise an Asian hornet?

Look for a mostly dark insect with one broad orange band towards the rear of the abdomen and legs that are yellow at the ends. The face is orange when seen clearly from the front.

Should I kill a suspected Asian hornet?

No. Keep your distance, take a photograph if it is safe and submit an official report. Many harmless native insects are mistaken for Asian hornets.

Should I report a sighting if I am not certain?

Yes. Send the clearest photograph you can, together with the exact location and the date of the sighting. Specialists will examine the evidence and identify the insect.

Where do I report an Asian hornet sighting?

In the Republic of Ireland, use the National Biodiversity Data Centre’s Asian Hornet Reporter. Include a photograph and the exact location whenever possible.