According to recent news reports, Asian hornets have now been sighted in the UK. Yes, these fearsome pests were recently spotted by beekeepers and verified by other authorities. But what should you know about these insects and are Asian hornets invading the UK?
What you need to know about Asian hornets invading
Asian Hornets were first spotted in Kent by a member of the British Beekeepers Association. There are many reasons why the public should be alarmed by Asian Hornets invading. First of all, these pests are extremely dangerous. They are known to be far more aggressive than our local wasps. These pests think nothing of attacking anyone in the vicinity of their nests. Even worse, they generally attack in groups, and can trigger severe allergic reactions in some people.
The other more serious danger is that they could potentially wipe out British honeybees. These pests are known to attack bees and can destroy entire nests in just a few hours. These are classed as an invasive species. What’s more, these hornets also breed extremely quickly, which is another reason why we should be on guard. If you think that disturbing a wasp nest is bad, Asian hornets are even worse.
Where did they come from and why are they in the UK?
Experts believe Asian hornets may have stowed away in lorries crossing the channel. It’s also thought that they may have originated in Jersey. The pests started breeding there and then crossed over onto the UK mainland.
So what can the UK public do about Asian hornets invading the UK? Two things. To begin with, you need to know how to spot these pests. Asian hornets are large in size and have the typical banded brown and yellow colouring. What usually distinguishes them from wasps is that their heads are a light shade of orange. Another distinguishing mark are their forelegs, which are brighter than the middle and back legs.
Despite this description, it can still be hard to identify these pests. This is why it’s important that you download the Asian hornet watch app. This app has pictures of the hornet, as well as other insects that it is often confused with. This should give you a better idea of what Asian hornets look like and help you to identify them more easily. This app also allows you to report sightings of these pests, enabling authorities ti investigate further. If you do spot these hornets, do not approach them. Simply report the sighting and let hornet and wasp control experts in London take care of the problem.