ASIAN HORNET ALERT

The Asian Hornet (vespa velutina) is a particularly worrying new addition to our shores as an aggressive predator they can have a devastating economic impact on agriculture and our native pollinators.

At its peak an Asian hornets nest may produce up to 2,000 individuals which are able to destroy a whole hive of 60,000 honey bees in just one day.

After locating a honey bee nest, marauding hornets will gorge themselves on honey and rip the heads and tails off honeybees who rush to defend the nest. The hornets then carry off what’s left of the bees to provide protein for their larval young back in the nest.

How to identify an Asian Hornet (vespa velutina)

• Size – Slightly smaller than European hornets but larger than our common wasp. Workers – 25mm Queens – 33mm
• Colour – Black/dark brown
• Head – Black head with orange/yellow face.
• Waist – Bright yellow belt.
• Rear – Dark brown with mustard/yellow band
• Legs – Upper legs are dark brown and the lower legs are yellow.