Asian hornets that can kill in minutes attack 10 people amid UK invasion warning
Ten people in Jersey have needed urgent medical treatment this summer after being stung by 'killer' Asian hornets - with swat squads using Henry Hoovers to try curb a potential invasion.
DEFRA warned today that more of the alien bugs have turned up on mainland Britain - this time in Kent - fuelling fears they are spreading this summer.
Jersey's current total of 476 queens this year is already six times the figure for the whole of last year, and we're only just into the main breeding season.
Those stung in the Channel Islands survived though Asian hornet stings have led to the deaths of at least five people in France, with more victims in other European countries.
The venom can cause people to go into anaphylactic shock. Victims can die within minutes of being attacked unless they receive urgent medical treatment.
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Asian Hornets are threatening to invade mainland Britain (Getty Images/iStockphoto)After the sightings this week in Kent, experts are monitoring the entire south of England. It's the sixth confirmed UK mainland sighting since April, when an Asian hornet was captured near Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
John de Carteret, head of the Jersey Asian Hornet swat squad, said the number of nest-making Asian Hornet queens found on the island since the start of spring now totals 476 - and they are breeding in increasing numbers.
He said yesterday: "After a record day for Asian Hornet Primary and/or Secondary nests yesterday their number stays at 77. The number of people confirmed as stung remains at ten." He also warned: "There's a long way to go here, especially whilst they are effectively uncontrolled in France."
Mr de Carteret was earlier this year involved in an Asian hornet hunt when a huge nest was found in toilets at the former Tamba Park activity centre in St Lawrence, Jersey.
A huge Asian Hornet nest that was found - above a leisure centre TOILET (John De Carteret / SWNS)Swat squads on Guernsey, meanwhile, are using Henry Hoovers to try to take the sting out of the invasion. They use the familiar household appliances to suck nests from hard-to-reach trees and clifftops.
The National Bee Unit, which works for Defra, has warned that apart from the threat to humans, they can destroy a hive of 30,000 honey bees within hours. A single nest full of Asian hornets is capable of consuming around 11kg (24lb) of pollinating insects like honey bees in a season.
Just one Asian hornet can wreak terrible damage - it can hunt down and eat fifty honey bees every day. Their mere presence can deter terrified bees from flying out of their hives for honey-making, costing beekeepers a fortune.
On the British mainland, teams from Devon's bee-keeping associations have distributed posters to places like caravan parks, marinas and parish notice boards and asking people to check boats and vehicles on their return from the Continent.
The nest was discovered by volunteer hornet hunter Jane Osborne when she entered the toilets (John De Carteret / SWNS)Defra's Chief Plant and Bee Health Officer Nicola Spence said: "By ensuring we are alerted to possible sightings as early as possible, we can take swift and effective action to stamp out the threat posed by Asian hornets.
"That's why we are working at speed to locate and investigate any nests in the area following the confirmed sightings in Kent. While the Asian hornet poses no greater risk to human health than other wasps or hornets, they can cause damage to honey bee colonies and other beneficial insects.
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"Please continue to look out for any Asian hornets and if you think you've spotted one, report your sighting through the Asian hornet app or online. Asian hornet nests will be smaller at this time in the year but we are still asking people to be vigilant."
Asian hornets appear to be attracted to beer (Guernsey State)
An Asian hornet drowning in beer in a pub beer garden in Guernsey (Guernsey State)Asian Hornet nests are built by a queen hornet in sheds or outbuildings but are also frequently found inside bird boxes. The queens stay within these nests for around six weeks, where they often raise roughly 100 worker hornets.
Once the nest is large enough, the hornets will leave it and move to other areas, such as taller trees, where larger secondary nests can be built.
People are being told to take care not to approach or disturb a nest but to photograph and follow any sole Asian hornets to help experts tracking flight paths leading them to nests which can be wiped out.
Defra says there is a high possibility of introduction through, for example, soil associated with imported plants, cut flowers, fruit, garden items such as furniture and plant pots, freight containers and untreated timber.
Asian hornets are growing in numbers this year in the Channel Islands (Getty Images)In the New Forest in September 2018, a tiny electrical device was used to track down a nest in Brockenhurst - well away from any houses - which was destroyed.
Nests are usually in tall trees but they can be found in hedges, brambles or garden shrubs, or even in earth banks, so they can easily be disturbed inadvertently, causing large numbers of hornets to emerge at once. However, a lone hornet does not pose much threat and can be photographed when it stops to feed.
Guernsey's Asian Hornet Strategy coordinator, Francis Russell, said "There are only a few more weeks left to find primary nests, so please do look in sheds, outbuildings and bird houses and if you see anything you believe to be an Asian hornet please report it, along with a photograph if possible."
Asian hornets reached Europe after sneaking into France in a shipment of pottery from China in 2004 and are now widespread in Spain and Portugal.
In France a group of cyclists were stung up to 50 times each after disturbing an Asian hornet nest as they pedalled alongside the Loire River. French media reported that the nest was suspended about two metres above the cyclists on a branch of a dead tree when the colony launched the attack.
It is believed that the hornets were either disturbed by the vibrations of the bikes, or another branch hit the nest as the cyclists passed the area. One of the cyclists was left in a life-threatening condition but thankfully recovered.
But nature lovers have begged people not to confuse the species and kill our native British hornet by mistake. Our hornets are smaller and far less dangerous and will only attack if they feel threatened - and they are a friend to farmers and gardeners as they eat millions of crop-destroying pests.
Anyone who suspects they have seen an Asian hornet should report this using the phone app 'Asian Hornet Watch' or by using the online report form. Alternatively, e-mail [email protected]. You can also share the information with a specialist team on 07839 197082 or by emailing [email protected].
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