Asian hornet queens in UK: Are they dangerous and how do you report sightings?

Asian hornets prey on honeybees and worries are emerging that they could threaten UK food supply chains as new nests are found.

Bee experts are trying to hunt down nests before new queens can disperse.

The bee team with the Animal Plant Health Agency (APHA) has discovered ten nests in the south west of England. A single nest can house thousands of wasps, all of which are capable of killing pollinators and other insects.

In France, it was found that nests can produce up to 350 future queen wasps and three times as many male hornets, according to the National Bee Unit (NBU)

Last year, the APHA found three Asian hornet queens in Sussex, presenting the first evidence of the winged invasive species overwintering in the UK.

In Dover, seasonal bee inspector Lisa Jenkins from the NBU has been teaming up with local hornet squads to track their movements and nests.

Writing in an online blog, she said: "Many of the hornet nests in Kent were found near Dover, Deal, and Folkestone, areas known for their beekeeping communities. Our first sighting of the day was in a village near Dover."

Working together they have been setting traps and trying to discover nests to destroy, but the public has been urged to be on the look-out for yellow-legged predators and to report any sightings - which usually peak in September.

With wetter and warmer conditions prevailing, and a record number of sightings of the predatory wasp last year, experts worry the invasive species is gaining a foothold in the UK.

Why is this winged invader seen as a threat and how do you know if you've spotted one.

Are they dangerous to humans?

Smaller than their UK native counterpart, the Asian hornet still carries a painful sting.

In rare cases, where a person is allergic, the sting can lead to difficulty breathing, hives or swelling.

In extremely rare cases a sting could cause death through anaphylactic shock.

Not usually an aggressive species, they can be extremely defensive of their nests. If they feel threatened they can engage in mass attacks of a perceived threat.

However, the government has advised that they pose no greater risk to humans than other native wasps or hornets.

What risks do they pose to wildlife?

While the risk to people is relatively low, their risk to wildlife is significantly higher - specifically to honey bees.

A predatory species, Asian hornets can eat vast quantities of honey bees. A single hornet can consumer up to 50 honey bees a day, with a swarm of wasps being capable of killing a hive of 30,000.

What do Asian hornets look like?

Asian hornets are smaller than their European relatives but still have a nasty sting. You can identify them by their yellow legs, orange face and dark abdomen with single yellow stripe. It’s believed they came to France on board a shipment of pottery from China.

They are an apex predator and each hornet can kill up to 50 insects including bees and wasps. There have been more than 100 sightings of Asian Hornets in the UK since 2016 - the highest numbers were recorded last year.

Why are we seeing more of them?

Wildlife and Countryside Link (WCL), which represents some 83 nature organisations, have warned that flooding and warming temperatures have contributed to a rise in Asian hornets.

The conditions could also lend themselves to new species establishing themselves in the UK.

Defra have reported confirmed sightings of eight Asian hornets in the UK this year so far.

Richard Benwell, WCL chief executive, said: “Invasive species are already one of the biggest threats to the UK environment, from smothering waterways to outcompeting native species.

“They also cause billions of pounds in damage a year to homes and businesses, and even pose risks to human health."

Why are experts worried about the surge in numbers in the UK?

Wildlife experts believe that the Asian hornet was officially first spotted in the UK back in 2016.

And, while they haven't established a foothold in Britain, like they have in France, without intervention they could continue to grow in number and disrupt eco-systems.

Environment groups are calling for the annual invasive species biosecurity budget to triple to £3 million with a further £3 million to fund a permanent dedicated invasive species Inspectorate.

How is the UK dealing with the surge in numbers?

Defra have said that the "national bee unit continues to stand ready to respond quickly and effectively to any further possible sightings".

A group of exterminators has also been set up and tasked with destroying Asian hornet nests.

The bee unit is placing traps to capture the hornets in areas of increased risk such as Kent, East Sussex, Devon and Yorkshire.

Nature groups have pointed to record sightings last year and called for the bee unit to be provided with more resources.

Defra said members of the public can report any sightings of the Asian hornet via the Asian Hornet Watch App.

'Murder hornets'?

Another type of hornet, the Asian Giant Hornet, is sometimes confused with the Asian Hornet due to their similar names.

However, the Asian Giant Hornet, which is sometimes referred to as a "murder hornet", are far larger, and far more dangerous than the type of hornet found in the UK.

The largest wasp species in the world, they have a stinger large enough to penetrate beekeeping suits.

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