The UK has successfully fought off an invasion by Asian hornets – thanks to vigilant people.
New research has shown that despite the UK’s favorable climate and habitat for the yellow-legged hornet, also known as the Asian hornet, effective measures have prevented the predatory pollinator from establishing itself here.
The non-native species, which can kill up to 50 bees a day, has decimated the bees in the bee colony. France and Italy.
It arrived in France in an earthen jar from China about 20 years ago, then spread rapidly across the continent, and appeared for the first time in the UK in 2016.
There have been regular sightings across the UK including 44 confirmed so far this year, mainly in Kent and East Sussex, but the National Bee Unit responds quickly to reports, destroying insects and nests found.
The UK Center for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) has led research to assess the ecological suitability of European countries for the establishment and spread of the yellow wasp (Vespa velutina).
The project was the first to consider how many of these species would occur in the UK, Germany and Netherlands if immediate destruction did not occur.
EU-funded research, published in the Journal of Applied Ecology, found that more than 1,500km2 of the UK could have been colonized by 2020 without action to tackle non-native species.
Asian hornets were first introduced to the UK in 2016 but have become more widespread in recent years. But experts say the UK has managed to deal with Asian hornet attacks – thanks to vigilant people.
A distinctive feature of the Asian Hornet is its bright yellow tips compared to the brown legs of the European Hornet.
Lead author Dr Richard Hassall of UKCEH explains: ‘No major outbreaks have been reported in the UK.
‘Although it has recently been established in Germany and the Netherlands, our predictions show that efforts to control yellow hornet in these countries have been successful in stopping its spread.
‘This is due to the remarkable efforts of vigilantes who report sightings of yellow-legged wasps, and then authorities take immediate action to locate and remove the insects and nests found.
‘Massive efforts have been made to monitor and reduce the spread of these invasive species which are not native to the UK and other parts of Europe, so it is encouraging to find these efforts seem to have been effective.’
The UKCEH manages Britain’s early warning system which helps people to report how to spot a range of non-natural hazards.
Yellow-legged wasps are one such species and there are many different ways people report them.
The Asia Hornet Watch program has received almost 12,500 sighting reports from the UK public so far this year.
But very few of these are confirmed to be yellow-legged wasps, and most often they see European hornets or other insects that resemble yellow-legged wasps.
Britons have been urged to keep an eye out for Asian hornets (pictured) as 25 have already been spotted this year.
Asian wasps have recently been renamed yellow-legged wasps in part to aid in better identification.
In addition to looking for tips on the app and online, people are asked to provide a clear picture and sighting to help experts quickly identify a yellow-legged hornbill.
Professor Helen Roy of UKCEH and the University of Exeter, a co-author of the study, said: ‘We thank everyone who is helping to spread the word about yellow horns.
‘Volunteers’ contributions to citizen science initiatives such as the Asia Hornet Watch program are inspiring.
‘The yellow-legged bee is a serious predator and has led to the destruction of bees in parts of Europe, and we know that there will be serious problems for the UK’s pests if they are introduced here.’
Yellow-legged wasps were introduced to the UK in 2016 but it became more widespread in recent years.
The species has been active in the south east of England, with Kent being the worst affected.
However, he also appeared in Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and London, in isolation confirmed sightings in areas of South-West England and as far north as Yorkshire and Northumberland.
So far, one wasp nest has already been identified and destroyed. Pictured, an Asian Hornet nest at a roadside cafe near Canterbury in May this year
Recent maps show that every part of the UK, with the exception of some areas in Scotland, has a stable climate for this pest.
This is of particular concern as Asian hornets feed on insects such as wasps and bees.
Each wasp nest can consume up to 11 kilograms of insects per year and they love bees that cannot be protected by these predatory predators.
The most common types of damage mistaken for the ecologically important European hornet.
‘One of the easiest ways to identify them is to look at their legs,’ said Professor Helen Roy, an ecologist at UKCEH and the University of Exeter.
‘Yellow-legged animals have yellow and purple legs, while European legs are purple.’
Asian wasps are also smaller and thinner than their European counterparts and appear orange when viewed from the front.
If you see a bug that you believe to be an Asian hornet, you are encouraged to report it via the Asian Hornet Watch app or online via the UKCEH online reporting form.
All information on this application is double-checked by UKCEH, but ensuring that you are truthful will help to ensure that information is used correctly.
Professor Roy adds: ‘The wealth of information we receive from citizen scientists is helping to develop an early warning system and our experiences are being useful to share with others to develop similar systems around the world.’
