Predatory hornet could spread rapidly in UK

The Asian hornet could colonise the UK within two decades if no action is taken.

Try 6 issues for £10 when you subscribe to BBC Wildlife magazine!
Published: August 10, 2017 at 7:59 am

Researchers have simulated how Asian hornets, also known as yellow-legged hornets, could advance across the UK from a single active nest.

This hornet species is a predator of honeybees and other insects, and if a single nest manages to thrive, there could be hundreds of thousands of them in the UK within just over two decades.

“Our research shows the potential for this predator to successfully invade and colonise the UK, spreading rapidly from any new invasion site,” says lead author Professor Matt Keeling from the University of Warwick.

“Even if we have managed to successfully control this first invasion, the presence of a growing population of these hornets in northern Europe makes future invasions inevitable.”

Asian20hornet20320_623-21ce7b4
The Asian hornet is native to China, the Indian subcontinent and Indo-China. © Giles San Martin

Asian hornets first appeared in Europe in 2004, believed to be amongst an import of Chinese pottery.

From the initial individuals in France, the species has since colonised a range of European countries, including Italy, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Switzerland and Belgium.

The first sighting of an Asian hornet in the UK occurred in 2016, when a nest was found and destroyed near Tetbury, Gloucestershire.

The Asian hornet was one of the top 30 high risk invasive alien species identified by the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH), which could threaten British biodiversity.

“We identified the threat posed by the Asian hornet a few years ago, and this study confirms the suitability of the UK for this species,” says Professor Helen Roy, an ecologist at CEH.

“It has been great to see the co-ordinated response of various authorities to the Asian hornet including support for early-warning through the Asian Hornet Watch app.”

Asian20hornet20120_20623-599b227
The first Asian hornet nest in the UK was found and destroyed in Gloucestershire in 2016. © Giles San Martin

Read the full paper in Scientific Reports

The Asian hornet is one of a number of invasive species which could cause problems in the UK if they become established. Click here to learn more.

Main image: The Asian hornet first appeared in Europe in 2004 © Giles San Martin

This website is owned and published by Our Media Ltd. www.ourmedia.co.uk
© Our Media 2024