Ripon residents have been told to keep an eye out for an invasive species of hornet that has been seen in the area.

A yellow-legged Asian hornet was confirmed to have been spotted by the Yorkshire Beekeepers Association today (August 3), and the National Bee Unit was called in to deal with the incident.

The association said:

"We've had a confirmed sighting, backed up with a photo, of a yellow-legged (Asian) hornet in Ripon."

The non-native species is a predator of over 1,000 native insects, posing a significant threat to bees, butterflies and beetles.

They are no more harmful to humans than native hornets.

So far this year there have been 82 sightings reported in the UK, with 544 reported in 2025.

The aggressive insects have been seen in North Yorkshire before.

Yellow-legged hornets are smaller than native European hornets, with a dark body, one yellow band and yellow legs.

They are often found near bee hives, as they kill the bees when they are returning home.

The Beekeepers Association recommends that if you see one not to approach it, but report it through the Asian Hornet Watch app – ideally getting a photo is it is safe to do so.