ASIAN HORNETS
Eastern Counties is beginning to get queries about the Asian hornet (Vespa velutina). It’s a relief to know that people are aware of this new threat, because it could be a serious one.
The Asian hornet’s natural range is south-east Asia, but a few arrived in France in 2004. Now the species is well-established in France and is edging into neighbouring countries. There were two sightings in England in 2022, both in the area we cover – one in Felixstowe in Suffolk and one in Rayleigh in Essex. One potential sighting in Cornwall in March 2023 is currently being monitored.
Killer hornets? Not usually
Don’t confuse Asian hornets with the Asian Giant Hornet (Vespa mandarinia) currently threatening the United States and Japan – Asian hornets don’t attack humans, although they will defend themselves fiercely. The accumulated effect of being stung by many hornets can be severe and several people have died after disturbing Asian hornet nests in France. But generally, Asian hornets save their aggression for bees. Asian bees have some amazing defence strategies to fend off Asian hornets, such as hissing, screaming or enclosing hornets in a ball of bees to suffocate or over-heat them. European bees have not yet learnt effective defensive skills like these. Their colonies can be devastated by a few Asian hornets invading the hive.
Here’s what they look like
- Around 25 to 30 mm long (smaller than European hornets)
- Black head with an orange ‘face’
- Black upper body
- Black lower body with a bright orange segment near the sting
- Yellow legs
- Their nest is egg-shaped, swirly-patterned and roughly half a metre long
- Active between April and November, especially in August and September.
Report every sighting
If you think you have spotted an Asian hornet or its nest, you must report it. Take a photo if you can and report an accurate time and location of the sighting through the Great Britain Non-Native Species Secretariat website at www.nonnativespecies.org or by email to alertnonnative@ceh.ac.uk.
Keep your eyes open for these invaders. Let’s keep them out of Britain, for the bees’ sakes.
ASIAN HORNETS
Eastern Counties is beginning to get queries about the Asian hornet (Vespa velutina). It’s a relief to know that people are aware of this new threat, because it could be a serious one.
The Asian hornet’s natural range is south-east Asia, but a few arrived in France in 2004. Now the species is well-established in France and is edging into neighbouring countries. There were two sightings in England in 2022, both in the area we cover – one in Felixstowe in Suffolk and one in Rayleigh in Essex. One potential sighting in Cornwall in March 2023 is currently being monitored.
Killer hornets? Not usually
Don’t confuse Asian hornets with the Asian Giant Hornet (Vespa mandarinia) currently threatening the United States and Japan – Asian hornets don’t attack humans, although they will defend themselves fiercely. The accumulated effect of being stung by many hornets can be severe and several people have died after disturbing Asian hornet nests in France. But generally, Asian hornets save their aggression for bees. Asian bees have some amazing defence strategies to fend off Asian hornets, such as hissing, screaming or enclosing hornets in a ball of bees to suffocate or over-heat them. European bees have not yet learnt effective defensive skills like these. Their colonies can be devastated by a few Asian hornets invading the hive.
Here’s what they look like
- Around 25 to 30 mm long (smaller than European hornets)
- Black head with an orange ‘face’
- Black upper body
- Black lower body with a bright orange segment near the sting
- Yellow legs
- Their nest is egg-shaped, swirly-patterned and roughly half a metre long
- Active between April and November, especially in August and September.
Report every sighting
If you think you have spotted an Asian hornet or its nest, you must report it. Take a photo if you can and report an accurate time and location of the sighting through the Great Britain Non-Native Species Secretariat website at www.nonnativespecies.org or by email to alertnonnative@ceh.ac.uk.
Keep your eyes open for these invaders. Let’s keep them out of Britain, for the bees’ sakes.