The United Kingdom is facing a potential invasion of Asian hornets, with sightings skyrocketing by a staggering 3,800%. These menacing insects, capable of decimating entire beehives within hours, have seen a dramatic increase in sightings in Britain last year. In 2022, there were only two reported encounters with these wasp-like creatures, but this figure soared to 78 last year.
First spotted in the UK in 2016, these bugs are now considered a concern as an invasive species across various European countries. Although their venom poses no more threat to humans than that of regular bees and wasps, according to Defra, Asian hornets can wreak havoc on other insect nests, feeding their thoraxes to their young and potentially killing up to 50 honey bees in one go. Last year, Defra pledged to eradicate any nests found in a bid to keep them out of Britain.
This year, the British Beekeepers Association has already reported four sightings, a worrying statistic considering hornets typically hibernate until summer. Ian Campbell from the BBKA told The Sun on Sunday: “They’re rife in Europe now, causing complete devastation, and that’s what we’re facing this year. We could be looking at thousands, maybe tens of thousands, by the end of the year.”
One beekeeper told The Mirror that these bugs nearly wiped out his 17 beehives last year. Simon Spratley, a Kent beekeeper, issued a stark warning: “In my 13 years as a beekeeper, I’ve never been more frightened. The average nest of Asian hornets produces up to 800 queens a year, around 90% of which die with a typical winter.
“But because we’ve only had one night below -5°C this winter, up to 90% will survive.”
“If you go within 50 meters, they become hyper-aggressive and will come out as a swarm of thousands to ward you off. “They have 6mm stingers which can strike repeatedly, and once you’ve been stung, it releases a pheromone that drives them all crazy to kill. You won’t be able to outrun them.”
The predatory insects, measuring up to 35mm in size and recognizable by dark abdomens with thin orange stripes, are a stark contrast to their European counterparts with yellow abdomens. Brits are advised to report any sightings to Defra immediately.
There was an alarming discovery in Kent recently, much earlier than the previous year’s first recording, where one was captured and later confirmed as an Asian hornet queen in a lab test. Diane Drinkwater, chair of the British Beekeepers’ Association (BBKA), voiced her concerns amid this latest development: “I suspect this is a winter queen that was born here. That has not been confirmed, but that would be logical.”
“Their life cycle is not advanced enough for them to have developed workers by this point. So I suspect it has not migrated from abroad, but we may have missed a nest somewhere. We have seen a lot of rain, so a lot of places where they hibernate might have been flooded. We always hope to see a lot of them die off.”
The potential impact of Asian hornets on the UK’s environment and wildlife is significant. These insects pose a threat to native bee populations, which play a crucial role in pollination and ecosystem health. The government and wildlife organizations are urging the public to remain vigilant and report any sightings to help prevent the establishment of Asian hornets in Britain.
