‘Make sure traps catch only hornets’
ISLANDERS trying to catch Asian hornets are being asked to try to ensure other wildlife can escape unharmed.
An Asian hornet nest, which was about the size of a small football, was found in a shed at L’Islet on Wednesday.
There have also been confirmed reports of hornet sightings in St Andrew’s and at the Longfrie.
Many people have been helping by putting out traps, but an Agriculture, Countryside & Land Management Services spokesman said they were concerned about the impact this could have of native wildlife.
‘We would encourage those people who are trapping Asian hornets to adapt their traps to reduce the amount of native insects trapped,’ he said.
‘This can be done by placing a sponge in the bottom of the trap, and melting 5.5mm holes approximately 1cm above the sponge to allow non-target insects to escape.
‘The addition of vinegar to the attractant in the traps will also discourage many of the non-target insects.’
The Guernsey Beekeepers’ Association has ordered a new type of attractant, which is currently being trialled in Jersey, to track and locate Asian hornet nests.
Once Asian hornets have been caught in a trap, a shallow tray of this new attractant is set out and hornets are observed flying to and from the bait.
There is the option to catch and mark the hornets, then time their return flight to the attractant station in order to estimate the distance to the nest. A hornet’s flight speed back to the nest is estimated as 5m/s.
The GBA has placed a provisional order for new radio tag technology, which would help track the hornets back to their nest, which could then be removed.
‘ACLMS is currently looking into the possibility of partnership funding with the Guernsey Beekeepers’ Association to purchase electronic tags and transmitters to help locate nests,’ the spokesman said.
The general public is encouraged to report sightings to ACLMS.
‘Most of the sightings reported last year were native wildlife and the public are asked not to kill the insects that they find,’ the spokesman said.
‘If someone sees a suspected hornet they are advised to take a good quality close-up photo, if possible, and email this to asianhornet@gov.gg.’
The sighting report should include the location, direction in which the hornet was flying and the spotter’s name and contact details. Alternatively, sightings can be logged through the free iPhone and Android recording app Asian Hornet Watch, or by phone on 234567.
