Hornet invasion potential threat to our honey bees

Lincolnshire beekeepers have issues urgent Asian Hornet warning – the invaders pose the greatest threat to our native British honey bees in over a hundred years

Approximately 30 nests have now been discovered so far this summer, including two only 100 miles away from the county and Lincolnshire Beekeepers’ Association (LBKA) is predicting the pests’ inevitable appearance here.

It is calling on all county residents to be vigilant to defend our honey bees: “The Asian Hornet is an ecological disaster,” said Stewart Maher, Lincolnshire Beekeepers Association’s Asian Hornet Coordinator.

“The past few years have been a ticking time bomb for bees, with climate change, intensive farming and the decrease in flora and fauna all adding up - but it is beyond devastating that we are now seeing the numbers of Asian Hornet nests increase dramatically in Britain. This is an invasive species; our bees do not have any defences against them - but we can protect them. We can be their defence.” 

Asian Hornets are an incredibly destructive invasive species and specialise in preying on honeybee hives. The hornets ‘hawk’ the front of target beehives, killing honeybees and feeding them to their young. One Asian Hornet alone can kill 60-90 honeybees per day, and dozens of them will ‘hawk’ a hive simultaneously decimating the bees, meaning it can be destroyed or irreparably weakened to the extent it cannot survive. 

There are over half a million nests annually in France alone, but it is the situation in Belgium, which has a similar climate to Britain, that has raised the threat level here.In 2020 the number of nests was at a similar level to what has been discovered in the UK this year and by 2022 there were over 3,000 - showing what could happen in the UK if action is not taken immediately. 

Stewart added: “This is a desperately perilous situation for honeybees and other insect life in Lincolnshire. The situation is urgent. That’s why I’m calling on everyone in the county to be vigilant, be aware of and report Asian Hornet sightings. We are now extremely concerned that they will spread throughout the UK and Lincolnshire, and if they do it’s vital to eliminate them before they can establish themselves further." 

You can identify an Asian Hornet by its very distinct markings - they’re a similar size to a European Hornet, which is two or three times the size of a common wasp and are black with distinct yellow lower leg. 

Asian Hornets are also a threat to people also if their nest is disturbed. 

If you think you see an Asian Hornet or nest, you can do one, or all, of the following:

• Take a photo on your phone for identification and report it by email on the Asian Hornet Watch App
• Report it on line to the National Bee Unit, or call 03003030094. 
• Each area’s Beekeepers Association has an Asian Hornet Coordinator who can advise or help with identification, which you can find by searching Asian Hornet Action Team Map on Google.
• Download the Asian Hornet Watch app, available on iOS and Android.