Asian hornets have been spotted in 16 separate locations in the Netherlands this year, after first being recorded here in 2017.

The hornet, which is almost twice the size of a normal wasp, has been seen across the country, including in Drenthe, Zuid-Holland, Zeeland, Noord-Brabant and Limburg, said hotline Stop Invasieve Exoten (stop invasive exotics).

The hornet (vespa velutina), which kills and eats honey bees and other insects, has been on the EU’s list of invasive species since August 2016. This means the authorities are obliged to track down and destroy their nests.

Three nests were also found, including one in Eindhoven. The hotline is urging people to be extra alert in the coming weeks because the queens are now leaving the nest and moving to pastures new.

In particular, attention is focusing on Meppel, where one hornet has been seen, because it is the most northern location where they have been spotted, the hotline said.