Record number of lethal Asian hornets crossed English Channel to the UK in 2023
Record numbers of giant murder hornets who destroy honey bees and rip their homes apart are invading the UK from across the English Channel.
In Japan the deadly stingers cause between 30 and 50 deaths annually. Although most people will only feel pain from their sting, they can also cause severe anaphylactic reactions. and if someone is stung multiple times its venom could lead to kidney failure, or even death. Figures for 2023 reveal 78 confirmed sightings, with Kent being a hotspot. Some 54 nests were eradicated in this part of the country alone. The Asian giant hornet was next spotted in the UK this spring, after vanishing for four years.
Beekeeping veteran, Roy Taylor, warns the hornet invasion is set to get worse. He said: "People will die if they are allergic to bee stings. They will chase you for 200 metres. They will not let you escape."
He added the intrusive insects have adapted to lower nest locations due to wind conditions. This means they are more likely to be disturbed, putting unwitting passers-by at risk. Hornet-fearing beekeepers will have to put even more effort into safeguarding their hives, and Roy predicts many hobbyists may throw in the towel.
Roy added: "It's going to mean checking your hives every day and moving them frequently to avoid the hornets.
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"We've got them now, there's no getting away from them." One nest of these Asian hornets, identified by their yellow legs and orange face, can consume up to 11.3kg of bees and insects, explained the 57-year-old.
Concerned bee keeper Roy Taylor (KMG / SWNS)Afraid they will take over in the same manner as they did in France over the past 12 years, he told KentOnline: "We are not on top of it but we are going to have to learn to live with it.
"It's a new way of life for everyone. We are never going to be able to contain it here."
The giant Asian hornets had already been held responsible for the deaths of six people in France when they arrived in Kent during the spring season. Experts believe these deadly hornets arrived in Britain flying across the channel.
Being natural predators to bees and wasps raised concerns about potential harm to honey and crop production. Roy pointed out: "One important point is the future loss of pollinators which are already under pressure from climate change, pollution, and pesticides." The first sighting of these giant Asian hornets was in Folkestone, Kent in April, after a dormant period of four years.
The British Bee Keeping Association confirmed it was the second reported sighting in the UK, with the first being in Northumberland. The worst month for sightings was August with 32 nests destroyed across the county.
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