Asian hornets have overwintered within the UK for the primary time this yr simply gone, DNA testing reveals. This implies it’s ever extra possible that Asian hornets might be right here for good, after thriving in France in recent times.
Throughout the Channel, they prompted concern due to the variety of bees that had been killed, as Asian hornets will dismember and feed on bees, sitting outdoors honeybee hives and preying on these coming and going.
Whereas they’d been sighted within the UK, the primary nest was captured in Kent in March 2023. Now, testing from the government-backed Nationwide Bee Unit has proven that three queen hornets that had been caught at 4 Oaks in East Sussex are the offspring of a nest destroyed in close by Rye in November 2023.
This tracked household tree of the hornets is proof that they’re overwintering and breeding within the UK.
This isn’t sufficient for them to be formally naturalised within the UK, which requires generations of a creature to be discovered, the place just one has been discovered up to now.
Asian hornets prompted havoc in mainland Europe final yr, and nests have up to now been present in East Sussex, Kent, Devon and Dorset.
A report discovered that invasive species are a significant menace to nature, meals safety and human well being. Additionally they contribute to 60% of worldwide extinctions and prices are quadrupling each decade, reaching $423 billion (£336 billion) in 2019.
The options are mentioned to be border and import controls. Although the Asian hornet poses no higher threat to human well being than different wasps or hornets, the Division for the Setting mentioned, it will probably trigger harm to honey bee colonies and different bugs.
Londoners are requested to grow to be aware of the damaging species to allow them to recognise it.
In 2004, a consignment of merchandise imported from East Asia more than likely contained Asian hornets, which had been unintentionally delivered to France.
The species has quickly expanded because it first arrived in France and is now spreading to close by nations.
How are they a menace to bees within the UK?
The Asian hornet is a notable bee predator, which is trigger for concern.
They’ve killed a big quantity of bees in France, together with quite a few species of solitary and colonial bees such because the well-known European honey bee. Since bees are an important a part of wholesome ecosystems, organisations devoted to nature conservation, just like the RSPB, are frightened about how Asian hornets may have an effect on bee populations.
As they’ve unfold to close by nations from France, the Asian hornets may additionally grow to be an issue within the UK.
How do they evaluate with European hornets?
Asian hornets are smaller than our native European hornets and still have yellow recommendations on their legs. Compared to our native hornet, which is 30 mm to 35 mm in size, an Asian hornet is continuously 25 mm to 30 mm lengthy (or roughly 1 inch).
One other key distinction is that whereas European hornets could also be energetic at night time, Asian hornets by no means are.
The right way to report an Asian hornet sighting
Individuals will be capable of swiftly and simply report potential sightings of the invasive species and transmit photographs of suspect bugs to specialists on the Nationwide Bee Unit through the use of the free Asian Hornet Watch app.
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