Asian Hornet Spotted in Belfast – Why It Matters

A small dark hornet with an orange band and yellow legs has been captured in Dundonald and confirmed as an Asian hornet, marking the first verified sighting in Northern Ireland. Further reports are being checked, and officials have activated a rapid-response plan, warning that the species poses a serious threat to bees and other pollinators.

Andrew Muir, Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs commented on the Daera website:

“This is a harmful species that I do not wish to see becoming established in Northern Ireland as it presents a serious threat to both biosecurity and local ecology, particularly valuable pollinating insects. On current evidence this is a solitary asian hornet, but a Departmental response is underway to ensure that no other Asian hornets are present. I am grateful to the Dundonald householder who captured and reported the Asian hornet and would urge the public to remain alert to the potential presence of this insect.”

Originally from Asia, the hornet spread through Europe after arriving in France in 2004, probably in a shipment of pottery from China. Warmer summers and milder winters have helped it move steadily north.

In Ireland, Asian hornets were confirmed for the first time this year when two nests were found and destroyed in Cork City and Cobh. Previously, only one isolated specimen had been recorded in Dublin as far back as 2021.

Asian hornets prey on honeybees, wasps and hoverflies. They hover outside hives, snatching returning bees mid-air, a behaviour beekeepers call hawking. They can strip a hive in hours, decapitating bees and feeding the thoraxes to their larvae. A single nest can hold thousands of hornets and wipe out 30 to 50 hives in a season, damaging pollination and crops. Their nests are usually high in trees or tucked under roofs, and often go unnoticed until late summer.

Pollinators underpin much of our food system, from fruit and vegetables to livestock feed, so their loss would reach far beyond beekeepers.

Asian hornets are smaller than many people expect, mostly dark with one orange band near the tail and bright yellow socks on their legs.

Authorities north and south have urged the public to stay alert and report sightings. It is important to follow the process outlined below and not target other species on the basis of the discovery of one Asian hornet.

If you think you’ve seen an Asian Hornet:

– Don’t kill it
– Take a clear photo if it’s safe to do so
– Note the location and time
– Report it through the right channel. In Northern Ireland use the Asian Hornet Watch app or in Ireland report through the National Biodiversity Data Centre.
– Stay away from nests and leave removal to the experts

The risk to people is low, but the risk to pollinators, and by extension to food production, is real. Awareness and quick reporting are the best defences we have.

Slugger Team

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