02/09/2026
A useful tip ahead of Yellow-legged Asian Hornet Week next week 🐝
Here's a timely observation shared by one of our Regional Bee Inspectors who has shared a subtle behaviour change at the hive entrance that can be an early sign hornets are targeting an apiary.
👀 If you notice bees congregating at the hive entrance seemingly without purpose and reduced foraging flights, it's worth spending some time watching that colony. Only one or two colonies in an apiary may show this, while the others carry on as normal.
The hornets themselves can be easy to miss. They tend to "just appear," flying low around the hives, often leaving and returning before targeting the bees, sometimes actively hawking, sometimes simply swooping around while scouting. Tellingly, the entrance behaviour can persist even when there's no hornet in sight at that moment, so the bees' reaction is itself worth heeding.
There can be other explanations for this behaviour, but at this time of year and with a nest recently confirmed in the North West (following Runcorn in 2025), a little extra vigilance in all areas is prudent.
🌿 And remember to keep an eye on the ivy which is coming into flower now. Hornets are drawn both to its nectar and to the masses of insects its blooms attract, making it another good place to watch.
For all the information you need on how to spot and report a Yellow-legged hornet, head to our website: www.bbka.org.uk/identify-report-asian-hornet
