Have you spotted an Asian Hornet?

Asian hornets or yellow legged hornets as they are also known, are a threat to our native honey bees, If you think you have spotted a yellow legged hornet then please report your sighting in the Asian Hornet Watch app (which you can download from the Apple Store or the Play Store from Android. Alternatively, here is some additional information that will help you:

  1. The ‘Asian Hornet Watch’ app is available to download from the Apple and Android app stores.
  2. The Great Britain Non-native Species Secretariat is a joint venture between Defra, the Scottish Government and the Welsh Government to tackle the threat of invasive species. More information can be found on their website http://www.nonnativespecies.org/home/index.cfm
  3. Members of the public can also report sightings by email to alertnonnative@ceh.ac.uk with a photo or on the Non-native Species Secretariat website.
  4. For details on the appearance of an Asian hornet please can be found on Bee Base guide or the non-native species identification guide.

Asian Hornet sighted in North Devon Sept 2017

An Asian Hornet has been spotted in North Devon. The National Bee unit are pulling out all the stops to locate the nest and destroy it before any Asian Hornet Queens leave to hibernate for the winter.

The Asian Hornet has devastated honey bee colonies and other pollinators on the European mainland so we urge anyone to report suspect Asian hornet sightings to alertnonnative@ceh.ac.uk to prevent that devastation happening here in the UK.

Asian Hornet sighted in Somerset Sept 2016

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The National Bee Unit are working hard to find, destroy and remove any Asian hornet nests after a hornet was spotted in the Mendip Hills in the county of Somerset.

The action they are taking includes:

• setting up a three mile surveillance zone around the location of the initial sighting
• opening a local control centre to coordinate the response
• deploying bee inspectors across the area who will use infrared cameras and traps to locate any nests
• readying nest disposal experts who will use pesticides to kill the hornets and destroy any nests

Bee inspectors in Somerset will be supported by nest disposal experts who will use an approved pesticide to destroy any hornets and remove any nests.

The first Asian hornet confirmed in the UK was discovered in the Tetbury area. A nest in the area has since been found, treated with pesticide and destroyed. No further live Asian hornets have been sighted in the area since the nest was removed.

 

Post taken from www.nationalbeeunit.com

 

Asian Hornet nest found in Tetbury Sept 2016

September 2016 – Asian hornet nest found and destroyed

An Asian hornet nest (image 1) has been located and destroyed by experts in the Tetbury area. The nest (image 2) was found at the top of a 55 foot tall conifer tree (image 3). Inspectors from the National Bee Unit are continuing to monitor the area for Asian hornets alongside local beekeepers. However to date, no live hornets have been seen since the nest was removed.

We urge anyone to report suspect Asian hornet sightings to alertnonnative@ceh.ac.uk.

Further guidance on the Asian hornet can be found on the Asian hornet pages of Beebase where you will find a very useful Asian hornet ID sheet sheet and Asian hornet poster which is available for identification purposes.

Post information taken from www.nationalbeeunit.com