The earliest-ever sighting of an Asian hornet in the UK has prompted experts to fear the invasive species has now established itself on our shores.
Sightings of the destructive species, which preys on honey bees, have risen dramatically in recent years.
Last year alone saw 56 confirmed sightings in the UK - more than half of the total 102 sightings recorded since 2016.
But fears have increased since earlier this month, on March 11 a single Asian hornet was captured in Ash, Kent, the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs confirmed.
It marks the first sighting of this year, and the earliest sighting to date - a month earlier than the previous earliest sighting, which came a month later, on April 11 last year.
Experts say they fear the early sighting means Asian hornets have now gained a foothold in the UK, posing “a real risk to wild pollinators”.
It is feared that rather than hibernating during the winter they are remaining active for a longer season, aided by a mild winter period.
Diane Drinkwater, chair of the British Beekeepers’ Association, said in comments reported by The Guardian: “I suspect this is a winter queen that was born here. That has not been confirmed, but that would be logical.
“Their life cycle is not advanced enough for them to have developed workers by this point [in the year]. So I suspect it has not migrated from abroad, but we may have missed a nest somewhere.”
Asian hornets first arrived in Europe in 2004, when they are thought to have travelled to France in a shipment of goods from east Asia.
They have since spread rapidly across France, and into neighbouring countries.
There have been 106 sightings in the UK since 2016. Numbers have increased dramatically, from just two sightings in both 2021 and 2022, then 56 in 2023.
Of these, the majority of sightings have taken place in Kent, with a number also recorded in other counties, as far north as Northumberland and North Yorkshire. A total of 85 nests have so far been destroyed in the UK.
David Smith, from invertebrate conservation charity Buglife, told The Guardian: “It would seem increasingly likely that [the hornets] have overwintered given the number of records last year and nests found right through until November.
“We have had a relatively mild winter so travel by their own means from the continent would still be possible, and there are also open pathways via imported natural goods such as plants, soils, and timber.
“It is highly concerning that their ‘season’ appears to be getting longer and this is a real risk to wild pollinators that are already facing significant declines and are now faced with a ferocious predator as they are emerging from winter.”
Asian hornets were confirmed in London for the first time in August, when a single hornet spotted by a beekeeper in Thamesmead led to the discovery of a nearby nest. Another nest was found and destroyed in Hackney in September.
Asian hornets are slightly smaller than native hornets. They have a dark abdomen with a distinctive orange stripe. Unlike native hornets which have dark-coloured legs, the invasive species’ legs are bright yellow.
Richard Mcintosh, Assistant Chief Plant Health Officer at Defra, previously said: “While the Asian hornet poses no greater risk to human health than other wasps or hornets, they can cause damage to honey bee colonies and other beneficial insects.
“We ask people to look out for any Asian hornets and if you think you’ve spotted one, report your sighting through the Asian hornet app or online. Asian hornet nests will be smaller at this time in the year, but we are still asking people to be vigilant.”
If you suspect you have seen an Asian hornet you should report this using the Asian Hornet Watch app or by using this online report form. Alternatively, e-mail alertnonnative@ceh.ac.uk.
