Asian hornet spotted in south Cornwall, posing severe risk to UK honey bees

The honey bee-killing hornet was spotted near Foye, south Cornwall. Credit: PA Images

An Asian hornet has been spotted in south Cornwall, posing great risks to UK honey bees.

The National Bee Unit has confirmed the sighting in the Fowey area of the county and surveillance is taking place in the local area.

Asian hornets are no more dangerous to humans than a bee, however they do severely endanger bee colonies.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is working to identify the nests and set up monitoring traps.

The predatory species was also discovered last year in the West Country.

Inspectors located a hornet near Woolacombe in North Devon. The first UK sighting was in Gloucestershire in 2016.

If you suspect you have seen an Asian hornet, you can report it using the 'Asian Hornet Watch' app or by emailing alertnonnative@ceh.ac.uk.

For more information on identification and reporting sightings, click here.

Further information can be found here.