Britain is on the brink of losing its war against the Asian hornet as the species invades the nation. Experts on the front line in Jersey warn they are “very worried” as nest numbers surge from just one in 2022 to up to “four nests a day”.
Volunteer efforts in Jersey
A team of 70 volunteers on the nine-by-five-mile island have laid 850 Asian hornet traps so far this year. This has helped to capture 2,811 queens who may have gone on to build nests.
Alistair Christie, Jersey’s senior scientific officer for invasive species, said: “There’s nobody in the UK that’s taken out more Asian hornets than me. Last year, I destroyed 388 nests.”
Rising numbers on mainland UK
Numbers are also rising rapidly on mainland UK, with 120 Asian hornet sightings this year. The pests have gained a foothold in Kent and they have been sighted as far north as Doncaster.
Mr Christie said: “I think of a Second World War front line between Kent and London, but the hornets are really good at making incursions.”
Threat to bees and biodiversity
The vicious insects, also known as yellow-legged hornets, can kill up to 50 bees a day and threaten honey production and biodiversity.
Jackie Thomas, Asian hornet coordinator for the Dover and District Beekeepers Association, said: “I’m very worried. They’ll be parts of the Dover area where you won’t be able to keep honey bees. I think that will be so sad. I just feel there needs to be a co-ordinated, controlled approach, not a Dad’s Army. England has to know what’s coming to hit them.”
