Asian hornets produce a distinctive buzz that could prove vital in controlling their spread, scientists have discovered, as the invasive species experiences a record year in the UK.

Researchers say this is “great news”, as the unique sound allows hornet nests to be located and distinguished more quickly from those of other insects, potentially helping to limit the threat they pose to bees and other pollinators.

The species, Vespa velutina, is notorious for preying on honeybees. In France, where they have thrived, their impact has caused serious concern: hornets wait outside hives, ambushing bees as they come and go, then dismembering them and feeding the protein-rich thoraxes to their young. A single Asian hornet can kill between 30 and 50 honeybees in a day.

In the UK, their numbers have surged. There were 57 sightings in 2023 – more than double the total of the previous seven years combined – while 2024 set another record with 71 confirmed reports. This year has already surpassed that figure, with the National Bee Unit recording 73 sightings and 28 nests in 2025 so far, more than twice the total at the same point last year. For the first time, the hornets successfully overwintered in the UK during 2023–24, raising fears they are now here to stay.

Despite coordinated efforts by government, scientists and beekeepers – including a national hornet-spotting campaign to find and destroy nests – numbers continue to rise, posing a growing risk to native pollinators.

Now, researchers at the University of Southampton have identified the precise acoustic signature of Asian hornet nests. They measured a fundamental frequency of 125 hertz and an average loudness of around 51 decibels, roughly equivalent to normal conversation.

This breakthrough means Asian hornet nests can be acoustically distinguished from those of bees and European hornets, particularly during September and October when colonies are at their largest.

Sophie Gray, an acoustic engineering graduate who led the research, said: “We observed and measured two Asian hornet nests and a European hornet nest in Jersey before they were destroyed. We found that the fundamental frequency is 125 hertz and that the nest can be detected from about 20 metres away with a directional microphone.

“We also recorded European hornets and honeybees to determine if we can differentiate the frequency. The fundamental frequency of the European hornet is about 110 hertz and honeybees about 210 hertz. It was great news to discover that the frequency is unique for each species, so they are distinguishable.”

The hornets were first recorded in Europe in 2004, believed to have arrived in France via cargo shipments from Asia. Since then, they have spread rapidly across western Europe – and their grip on the UK is now tightening.

 

 

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