The first Asian hornets are spotted in mainland Britain sparking fears for the future of our native bees
An Asian hornet was found in the Tetbury area of Gloucestershire
ASIAN hornets which pose a huge threat to the UK's honey bee population have being sighted, government experts have confirmed.
An Asian hornet (Vespa velutina) has been found in the Tetbury area of Gloucestershire - and work is now under way to find and destroy any nests belonging to the non-native species.
Experts said the Asian species, which is smaller than native European hornets at up to 2.5cm long, pose no risk to human health.
But they prey on important pollinating insects such as honey bees and could do serious damage to colonies here, which have not evolved to cope with the threat.
Asian hornets arrived in France in 2004 and are now common across large areas of Europe.
Experts in the UK have been on standby for the insect's arrival over recent years - and the species was discovered for the first time in Channel Islands Jersey and Alderney this summer.
It is thought the hornets will not be able to survive in the north of the UK due to the colder winters.
The hornet which has been found has been killed and sent for DNA testing at the National Bee Unit in North Yorkshire, to help establish how it arrived in the UK.
Meanwhile a three-mile surveillance zone has been set up around Tetbury, with bee inspectors deployed to use infrared cameras and traps to locate any nests.
If nests are found, disposal experts are on standby to use pesticides to kill the hornets and destroy their nests.
Nicola Spence, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs deputy director for plant and bee health, said: "We have been anticipating the arrival of the Asian hornet for some years and have a well-established protocol in place to eradicate them and control any potential spread.
"It is important to remember they pose no greater risk to human health than a bee, though we recognise the damage they can cause to honey bee colonies.
"That's why we are taking swift and robust action to identify and destroy any nests."