Asian Hornets - a real threat to local pollinators.

The arrival of Asian hornets in the Channel Islands 

The first known sighting of an Asian hornet (Vespa velutina) in Guernsey was in March 2017, with the UK, Jersey and Alderney recording 

their first ones in 2016. Asian hornets have spread through Europe after accidental importation into Southern France in a consignment 

of pottery in 2004. Once they colonise a new region, it only takes as little as 2-3 years for their numbers to be out of control. 

Why are we worried?

The Asian hornet is a non-native invasive species and an aggressive predator of all pollinating insects. They are a major threat to our island’s biodiversity, and beekeeping activities. On average, 39% of their diet consists of honeybees. When a large nest is disturbed, there is a risk of serious attack which can lead to a medical emergency.

The aim of the Asian Hornet Strategy (implemented by the States in 2019) is to ensure that we keep the population of Asian hornets as low as possible, to the safeguard the island's insects and protect public health. The strategy relies on public awareness and engagement to report sightings throughout the year. A spring trapping programme targets the queens before they build nests and during the summer/autumn months the Asian Hornet Team respond to reports from the public and beekeepers to locate and destroy hornet nests.

What can beekeepers do to help?

It is uncommon for Asian hornets to predate on honeybees before late summer/early autumn. Once they locate an apiary, the worker hornets ‘hawk’ in front of a hive continuously picking off the bees. This leads to increased stress in the hive and reduces the time spent foraging. In extreme cases this can result in a colony collapsing.

We recommend that beekeepers refrain from trapping hornets as this has no impact on the overall colony development but can result in the by-catch of beneficial pollinators. Spending ten minutes observing hives for any hornet activity is a sure way of identifying the presence

of Asian hornets. These worker hornets are then tracked to locate the large nests, typically in the tops of tall trees.

What to do if you see an Asian hornet?

Please report the location of any suspected hornets or unusual nests to the Asian Hornet Team at Agriculture, Countryside & Land Management Services (ACLMS) by telephoning 07839 197082, or emailing asianhornet@gov.gg attaching a photograph where possible, as it makes identification a simpler process. All nests are destroyed and removed as a free service provided by the States AH Team.