An Asian hornet was discovered in St Helier last week, and as the predatory insect is well established throughout France, the Environment Department has warned that it is only a matter of time before the invasive species arrives in greater numbers.
The arrival of the Asian hornet comes just two weeks after a colony was discovered in Alderney in what was the first official recording in the British Isles. There have been numerous unsubstantiated sightings in the UK in recent years and the Jersey sighting was made by amateur entomologist and photographer Alan Modral at Mount Bingham.
He took a number of photos and sent them to Environment, who forwarded them to Defra in the UK, and they confirmed that it was an Asian hornet.
