Guernsey Press

Asian hornet find ‘a big step to halting spread’

CAPTURING three Asian hornets in the Castel is a big step towards stopping the spread of the species across the island.

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Beekeeper Damian Harris at Castel Church looking out for Asian hornets as some have been reported in the area. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 21772072)

Two Asian worker hornets were caught by a resident beekeeper in the Castel area at the weekend, providing vital information on the potential location of a nest.

The invasive species was first spotted in the island in March last year, carrying the risk of wiping out native species and having unknown effects on the ecosystem.

President of the Guernsey Bee Keepers Association, Damien Harris, discovered two nests last year and felt the location of this discovery was a good sign.

‘This point at Castel Church gives us a good vantage point to spot the hornets’ flight path,’ he said.

‘We can then track and map their paths and hopefully pinpoint an area where the nest may be.

‘It’s probably in an outbuilding, a stable or a shed, somewhere protected.

‘Once we have fair weather I will see if there are any out buildings in the area, and talk to residents.

‘We have already found two queens and potentially another, but finding workers mean the nests have begun – this is the first nest this year we have to try and find.

‘When you find a queen that’s great but when you find workers that’s an issue.

‘They’ll make a starter nest with up to 50 hornets.

‘After that they leave the nest and make a larger one usually high up in a tree.

‘What we want to do at this stage is find it and dispose of it before that happens.’

Mr Harris said the hornets should not be killed if found.

‘Their risk to humans isn’t that much, but their sting is more painful than a wasps,’ he said.

‘They are territorial, if you approach a nest you’ll hear a warning buzz telling you to go away, if you don’t they will come out in force, and are likely to chase.

‘Don’t kill them if found, as they release pheromones, so if you find a singular hornet or a nest stay away from it and contact the States.’

Jersey have already found 14 nests this year, which may be due to their closer proximity to France, as the insects are likely to have travelled via on winds from the Continent.

‘We don’t want to get to that stage,’ said Mr Harris.

‘Jersey missed a few chances to control it early on and that likely spread the problem.’

Mr Harris described the hornets as a ‘formidable’ bee predator, which target all pollen-gathering species and have even been known to attack dragonflies.

n Asian hornets can be identified by their dark brown or black velvety bodies, characteristically dark abdomen and yellow tipped legs.