And today the Jersey Fire and Rescue Service was due to deploy its heat-seeking drone to help search for any hornets or other possible nests.
The first active nest was found at Fliquet and destroyed in June. The most recent nest, which beekeepers and Environment officers have been looking for for a number of months, was found on Friday up a tree at La Crete Quarry between Gorey and Archirondel.
Robert Hogge from the JBKA said the Environment Department had asked the fire service for their help so that they can assess the value of using drones and infra-red devices in the search for Asian hornets.
‘Because of the diminishing window of opportunity to destroy all the nests before a new generation of queen emerges every possible insight that we can gain into finding the nests, which are likely to be in the tops of leafy trees, the more chance there is to discover the five-plus nests that are thought to be active on the Island,’ he said.
‘While individual hornets are docile and are of little risk unless attacked the nest itself is rigorously defended.’
Efforts are also under way to locate other nests of the aggressive invasive species, which preys on honey bees, in Rozel and St Brelade. Sightings of Asian hornets and nests should be immediately reported to the Environment Department by calling 441600.
