The general public are urged to stay vigilant as Asian hornets have been spotted in the Dover area of Kent.
There have been six sightings since April and the latest sighting takes the number to its highest since 2018, when there were nine UK sightings for the whole year. If you spot one, or a nest, you are urged to either report the sighting via the Asian hornet app (Asian Hornet Watch) or contact Arrest The Pest and we can manage it for you.
Threat to honeybees
Asian hornets pose a particular threat to honeybees, which are already in decline from habit loss, disease and climate change.
They can eat honeybees in large quantities, demolishing a hive very quickly. Also known as the Asian Predatory Wasp, the insect can consume 50 honey bees a day, with a swarm of insects capable of killing a hive of 30,000.
In France, where the hornet is more established, it has consumed large numbers of bees, including the well-known European honey bee and many lesser-known solitary and colonial bee species.
Risk to humans
Smaller than the UK’s native hornet, the non-native Asian hornet poses a risk to the public in that its sting can be painful. Asian hornets are not generally aggressive but are known to be highly defensive of their nests and can swoop down and sting in “mass attacks” when they feel threatened, so don’t approach or disturb their nests.
In very rare cases, where a person is allergic, they can lead to symptoms such as difficulty breathing, hives and swelling. An in extremely rare cases, a sting may cause death due to an anaphylactic reaction – a life-threatening allergic reaction in which blood pressure falls and the airway closes.
The risk overall is small, it poses no greater risk to human health than native wasps and hornets. However, if an Asian hornet does sting you, it is important to immediately wash the area thoroughly with soap and cool water and, if possible, to apply ice to slow the venom spreading further.
The hornets don’t leave a stinger so you will not need to worry about removing one.
What do Asian hornets look like?
They have several distinguishing features:
- They have striking yellow “socks” – leading to its common name in Asia of the “yellow-legged hornet”.
- They are slightly smaller than our native European hornet but larger than a common wasp.
- And they are darker than European hornet and many types of wasp, but have a distinct orange face and an orange-yellow band towards the tail end of its abdomen.
What to do if you see one
Keep looking out for Asian hornets. If you think you’ve spotted one, report your sighting through the Asian hornet app (Asian Hornet Watch) or alternatively, call Arrest The Pest. We can come and inspect a possible nest sighting, and then also report the sighting for you.
Call us
If you would like advice or support with hornets, or if you feel you may have seen an Asian hornet, don’t hesitate to call or message Jeremy on 07766083234 or contact us on Facebook.
Source: iNews
Photo by Krzysztof Niewolny on Unsplash
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