Data snapshot · reviewed 23 August 2026
Yellow-legged hornet tracker: UK nests in 2026
The National Bee Unit listed 145 credible yellow-legged hornet sightings and 41 nests in the UK by 20 August 2026. 20 nests were found during the first 19 days of August. Kent accounted for 24 of the 41 nests. Garden UK has grouped the official records by month, county and nest type below. Report suspected hornets through the official app or online form.
Timing
Nests found by month
August supplied 49% of the year-to-date nest total by 19 August.
Distribution
Nests listed by county
Kent, Hampshire, Surrey and East Sussex accounted for 37 of 41 listed nests.
Transparent method
What these figures do and do not show
Garden UK transcribed every nest row in the National Bee Unit table published on 20 August 2026. We counted rows by date, county and official nest type. Nests at the same location remain separate when the source lists them separately.
The headline gives 145 credible sightings. Its location table does not list all 145 records. We therefore do not calculate sighting trends or county shares. A sighting may also relate to a listed nest.
This is a dated snapshot, not a live alert service. Check the National Bee Unit rolling update before reusing a figure. Do not approach or disturb an active nest.
