Aggressive Asian Hornet Invasion
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Swarms of aggressive Asian hornets are reported to be spreading across France
from the south after they arrived as stowaways in a cargo of pottery from China
in 2004.
With adult queens reaching up to 3 cm in length the Asian hornet Vespa velutina is slightly smaller than the native European Hornet but is much more aggressive when defending its nest than the native European Hornet often chasing anything it regards as an intruder for long distances.
There have been numerous reports of the hornets attacking and chasing passersby this summer and although their stings are not much more poisonous than other hornets or wasps it is their aggressiveness and the larger number of stings when the hornets swarm that can pose a threat.
This month the hornets have been sighted as far north as Paris and experts fear that they will soon spread across the channel but would be unlikely to survive a traditional wet English summer.
Susiewong
said:
Bertie Fox
said:
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With adult queens reaching up to 3 cm in length the Asian hornet Vespa velutina is slightly smaller than the native European Hornet but is much more aggressive when defending its nest than the native European Hornet often chasing anything it regards as an intruder for long distances.
There have been numerous reports of the hornets attacking and chasing passersby this summer and although their stings are not much more poisonous than other hornets or wasps it is their aggressiveness and the larger number of stings when the hornets swarm that can pose a threat.
This month the hornets have been sighted as far north as Paris and experts fear that they will soon spread across the channel but would be unlikely to survive a traditional wet English summer.
Comments (2)
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Susiewong
said:
|
... In view of thee Asian hornets being too aggressive and a danger to indigenous bees, should we destroy nests if we find them? What environmental advice is there? Thanks. |
Bertie Fox
said:
|
... This is really bad news for beekeepers like us. There needs to be concerted action aimed at wiping out or at least severely controlling these hornets. Unlike bees, hornet nests die out in autumn and it is only the newly-mated queens which overwinter. The Tetse fly was controlled by releasing large numbers of sterile males (sterilised after irradiation.) Couldn't the scientists do something similar with hornet drones of this species? Apart from that the best time to destroy the nests, other than killing overwintering queens, would be in early summer before they have established. Beekeepers with their protective equipment, should be employed to hunt out and destroy the hornet nests. |
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Aggressive Asian Hornet Invasion
Swarms of aggressive Asian hornets are reported to be spreading across France from the south after they arrived as stowaways in a cargo of pottery from China in 2004. With adult queens...
Swarms of aggressive Asian hornets are reported to be spreading across France from the south after they arrived as stowaways in a cargo of pottery from China in 2004. With adult queens...
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