Subscribe to trusted local news
If you are accessing this story via Facebook but you are a subscriber then you will be unable to access the story. Facebook wants you to stay and read in the app and your login details are not shared with Facebook. If you experience problems with accessing the news but have subscribed, please contact subscriptions@thestrayferret.co.uk. In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever. By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.
- Subscription costs less than £1 a week with an annual plan.
Already a subscriber? Log in here.
03
Aug
Asian hornet spotted in Ripon
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.
2