Look at the size of it! Family find huge hornet in their loft
A family in Sherburn-in-Elmet say they discovered this huge hornet in their loft.
It’s been identified as a European Hornet, possibly a Queen given the time of year. and according to one local beekeeper it’s not unusual to see them in North Yorkshire.
They are nowhere near as dangerous to honey bees as their Asian Hornet cousins which have been occasionally spotted in the UK too.
YorkMix Radio presenter and our resident beekeeping expert, Alex Brown, who lives near Selby, says he doesn’t worry too much about European Hornets as they do not have the same appetite as Asisan ones do.
While a European Hornet will eat bees, it doesn’t in huge numbers.
Jodie Leigh Smith told YorkMix her partner went up into the loft at their property in Sherburn-in-Elmet and a couple of them flew out. They managed to detain one to get some photos.
It has since been released.
The native European hornet is a valued and important part of our wildlife, and queens and nests of this species should not be destroyed.
Alex Brown says that anyone who finds a similar insect and is unsure about its identity can always download a free and helpful app called Asian Hornet Watch.
Both species are similar but there is more black on the body of an Asian Hornet and yellow bits on their legs (if you get that close to see)
Asian Hornets should always be reported because while they pose no greater risk to human health than a bee, they are a threat to our native honey bees, which is why it is important to quickly contain them.