British beekeepers are calling on the government to launch a national awareness campaign about the threat posed by the yellow-legged Asian hornet, an invasive species native to south-east Asia that has been spreading across Europe since roughly 2004. The hornets devastate local pollinator populations — described as leaving behind "pollinator deserts" — posing risks to food security, biodiversity, and honey production. The UK's National Bee Unit destroyed a record 161 nests in 2025 and relies heavily on public reporting, with nearly 30,000 sightings submitted in 2024 alone, but beekeepers warn the response cannot scale without sustained government commitment and broader public engagement.