| Event type: | Meeting |
| Date: | 23rd September 2025 |
| Time: | 14:00 |
| Group: | Science and Technology - OPEN |
| Venue: | Petersfield Community Centre |
Talk by Julie Trice
The Yellow-legged (previously known as Asian) hornet is a highly aggressive predator of pollinators. It was accidentally introduced into France in 2004, and since then, its spread throughout Europe has been both fantastic and highly damaging. The first nest found in the UK was in 2016; this grew to 72 in 2023. As of 2025, we have had 68 sightings and 24 nests destroyed. It has become increasingly vital for us in the UK to recognise and report this insect due to the harm that it can do to our biodiversity should it spread through the country. Beekeepers are leading the campaign; we are familiar with insects, and honey bees are a concentrated source of food, but eradicating YLHs is an issue for everyone.
Soon after Julie took up beekeeping in 2017, she heard about Asian hornets, since renamed to Yellow-legged hornets, at that time considered a possible but still distant threat. Since then, she has, thanks to the BBKA and the National Bee Unit, been to every annual conference and has been able to look at the latest research throughout Europe. She has been on the committee of Farnham Beekeepers since 2019 as Secretary and YLH representative, and is one of the 8 Surrey Beekeepers YLH coordinators. She heads the Farnham Association YLH team, a great group of beekeepers who support her with monitoring for hornets, reacting to reports of YLHs and spreading the word at various events.
Last Updated on 7th August 2025