Killer Asian hornets could become more aggressive as the British invasion ramps up
SWNS
2023-09-21
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Killer Asian hornets could become more aggressive - with nests being blown from trees in strong winds, experts warn.
Fears of a fresh 'ground offensive' have been heightened with gales and heavy gusts forecast this week.
Experts say the insects often build nests in trees - but they could be knocked down in the winds and become extra aggressive if disturbed.
The warning comes after Brits were told they were 'ill-prepared' for the 'inevitable' full-scale invasion of the hornet that has already conquered parts of Europe.
Its impact could be devastating for the native bee population while people have also died as a result of stings on the continent.
Currently Kent is facing the biggest threat with dozens of nests already been discovered this season - dwarfing any previous year.
But for many years the Channel Islands has been Britain's frontline to try and thwart a mainland invasion.
Jersey Asian Hornet Group volunteer John de Carteret said with near-gale force winds forecast his week, more nests could be found on the ground.
He said: "With the change in the weather and high winds and rain it is possible that nests – in trees in particular – could become dislodged, as they are exposed.
"What tends to happen is that branches will knock into another and strike a nest down, certainly that’s happened during strong winds previously."
The public are being warned to stay as far away as possible from a suspected Asian Hornet and report it to the authorities straight away.
So far in Jersey this year a record 247 nests have been discovered, compared to 174 found during the whole of 2022.
The species began to spread through Europe in 2004 after arriving in the south of France inside a freight ship.
They were was spotted in the British Isles on the Channel Island of Jersey in late 2016.
But after years of establishing themselves on Jersey and Guernsey, the battleground shifted last year to Southern England.
This led to calls for a "people's army" to help fight off an impending invasion of killer hornets onto mainland Britain.
The hornets are able to kill with one sting among people who have an allergy, while they also pose a threat to the environment and native species.
One hornet can also eat 50 bees in a day.
Fears of a fresh 'ground offensive' have been heightened with gales and heavy gusts forecast this week.
Experts say the insects often build nests in trees - but they could be knocked down in the winds and become extra aggressive if disturbed.
The warning comes after Brits were told they were 'ill-prepared' for the 'inevitable' full-scale invasion of the hornet that has already conquered parts of Europe.
Its impact could be devastating for the native bee population while people have also died as a result of stings on the continent.
Currently Kent is facing the biggest threat with dozens of nests already been discovered this season - dwarfing any previous year.
But for many years the Channel Islands has been Britain's frontline to try and thwart a mainland invasion.
Jersey Asian Hornet Group volunteer John de Carteret said with near-gale force winds forecast his week, more nests could be found on the ground.
He said: "With the change in the weather and high winds and rain it is possible that nests – in trees in particular – could become dislodged, as they are exposed.
"What tends to happen is that branches will knock into another and strike a nest down, certainly that’s happened during strong winds previously."
The public are being warned to stay as far away as possible from a suspected Asian Hornet and report it to the authorities straight away.
So far in Jersey this year a record 247 nests have been discovered, compared to 174 found during the whole of 2022.
The species began to spread through Europe in 2004 after arriving in the south of France inside a freight ship.
They were was spotted in the British Isles on the Channel Island of Jersey in late 2016.
But after years of establishing themselves on Jersey and Guernsey, the battleground shifted last year to Southern England.
This led to calls for a "people's army" to help fight off an impending invasion of killer hornets onto mainland Britain.
The hornets are able to kill with one sting among people who have an allergy, while they also pose a threat to the environment and native species.
One hornet can also eat 50 bees in a day.
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