Page 28 - April 2024 Newsletter

THE ASIAN HORNET THREAT – POLLINATORS IN PERIL

Asian hornets are an invasive, voracious predator of our pollinator insects in-
cluding Honey Bees. Accidentally introduced into France in 2004, they have
since spread Eastwards to Italy, South to Spain and Portugal and North to Ger-
many Switzerland, Belgium, Holland and now, to the UK.

2023 saw a massive increase in their numbers throughout Europe and, in the
UK, from a yearly average of 2-3 nests per year up to 2022, 2023 saw 78 nests
recorded, mainly in the South-East. We fear numbers will inevitably increase
and, if they become established in the UK, from experience on the continent,
they will have a devastating impact on our insect population, and on biodiversi-
ty. The already fragile balance of the ecosystem will be upset and pollinator ser-
vices disrupted with consequences for flowering plants, food crops, and for
creatures further up the food chain. There is also a risk of injury to ourselves
from stings as, when provoked, they attack ferociously.
But how do you identify them? :-

The Asian Hornet looks like a large black wasp with some distinguishing fea-
tures:
• a single yellow/orange band around its abdomen,
• an orange face,
• and yellow tipped legs.
Queens are up to 30mm long, and workers up to 25mm. They also have a deep-
er buzz than honey bees.
Although the yellow tipped legs are often cited as a main identification factor,
these may be difficult to spot in flight and the thick, yellow\orange band on the

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