Hornet warning after nest found

Hornet warning after nest found

John de Carteret, vice president of the Jersey Beekeepers’ Association, said that he wanted Islanders to report any potential sightings of the predatory insect, which threatens the Island’s honey-bee population, to the Environment Department.

Yesterday, Mr de Carteret went to a home at Maufant after the owner found the beginnings of a primary hornet’s nest – which could have produced 50 to 60 hornets – concealed within a porch light-fitting. Secondary nests can contain up to 6,000 hornets, around 200 of which would be queens.

‘From what we can gather they like to be urban rather than rural,’ Mr de
Carteret said. ‘They’re happy to make nests in man-made structures, so we’re asking people to check porches, garden sheds and garages.

‘Last year we were reactive to the sightings. This year we’re being proactive by putting traps out to get emerging queens. They have been in hibernation over the winter and because of the spring we’ve had they are only just coming out of hibernation.’

The Jersey Beekeepers’ Association is helping the Environment Department to find and remove the nests. Potential sightings, ideally with a photograph, should be emailed to environmentenquiries@gov.je.

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