YLAH – Meetings and Updates

Most recent first:

YLH National BBKA Forum – 27th April, 2026 (69 in attendance)

Main Outcomes:

1. Interesting presentation of BBKA’s impressive outreach programme aimed at schools. See, pollinator science project
Other highlighted resources:
Killer Hornet – BBC video
BBKA awareness video

2. Several associations presented a number of initiatives to raise awareness of YLH and engage the public beyond the beekeeping community. Ideas included presentations and spreading information at country shows and other civic meetings, ensuring local pest controllers are informed and contacting garden centres. It was highlighted that with the spread of YLHs into the Netherlands the import of plants could become a migration route.

3. Many associations were purchasing and distributing traps, bait stations and Trappit and getting members to install the Asian Hornet App, to work closely with their AHAT Coordinator and be ready to report sightings. Several declared intentions to purchase and deploy BuzzCoppers once they become commercially available. Clearly, many were getting ready to be involved with tracking and tracing in the late summer in order to enable NBU teams to find and eradicate YLH nests.

4. The frustration regarding the delays involved with confirmation and prompt publication of sightings and NBU data were ‘aired’ at some length. I was not alone in pointing out that the precise locations (which might identify personal addresses) was not needed. OS style 1Km squares or even the 10km squares as used in NBU maps would be more than enough to motivate a large number of local beekeepers.

A link that might be of interest:
Website trying to give a better presentation of published data and other resources
www.catch.asianhornetalert.org.uk

YLH National BBKA Forum – 30th March, 2026 (53 in attendance)

The March, nationwide, discussion forum for coordinators included a presentation by the Head of the NBU, Kate Wilson, which added some clarity, background and reasoning behind to the current policies.

As part of the APHA, the NBU continues to be funded by DEFRA to monitor and coordinate work to limit the incursions of YLHs. This involves:

  • The tracking, tracing and eradication of nests is to continue.
  • In 2025, 163 nests (mainly in the SE) were eradicated.
  • DNA analysis of the hornets from nests has shown that between 2016 and 2021 none were directly related and therefore were not the result of over wintering queens. Worryingly, since 2022 the analysis shows that some queens had overwintered to create a new population.
  • Whilst encouraging beekeepers and others to attempt to trap, kill (freeze) and report sightings of queens from mid March to May the NBU has discontinued involvement in tracking in these early months as it is considered to be ineffective.
  • The need to regularly monitor traps and release by-catch was emphasised.
  • Limiting the use of traps to the early months reduces ‘volunteer fatigue’.
  • In August/September use bait stations to detect and report YLHs and involve the NBU to track, trace and eradicate nests.
  • Procedures are in place to share information more quickly but this must respect data protection issues. Information will only identify sightings, etc. within 10km squares.
  • Our Regional Bee Inspector, Tom Bickerdike, plays a major role in coordinating the NBU’s response.

The BBKA has been working closely with the NBU and many useful resources have been published. Login to https://memberhub.bbka.org.uk/

See also maps showing all confirmed sightings and disease outbreaks on BeeBase

https://www.nationalbeeunit.com/diseases-and-pests/reports-charts-and-maps/maps-2

YLAH Update – MBA AGM, 2026
Key points:

  1. Nature and urgency of the problem.
  • 163 YLAH nests destroyed in 2025 – the vast majority of these in, or close to, Kent where heroic efforts are being made to track, trace and assist the NBU in eradicating nests.
  • Local sightings and nests in 2025 which identify Southampton as being a high risk zone. Potential risks from unmonitored areas – ie Portsmouth and the New Forest.

2. Strategies and realistic action plans

    • Spreading the word – playing our part in disseminating correct identification details through personal contacts and other groups, clubs and associations.
    • Tuning our efforts to be most effective at critical times in the life cycle of YLAHs
    • Establishing an effective spread of monitoring stations with individuals who can ‘triage’ other local sightings
    • Establish a WhatsApp group of interested members for the effective spread of YLAH information and news.
    • MBA YLAH Coordinator to work to establish better liaison between Hampshire and other local BKAs