Spanish scientist Dr Xesús Feás, of the University of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, has been studying the Asian hornet for ten years and is currently researching the effects of its sting.
He fears that as Jersey is an island it is at greater risk from being overcome by the species than the European countries it has colonised so far.
‘From my experience, if adequate measures of containment and control of the invading insect are not put in place, the colonisation of Jersey will be massive,’ he said.
‘The Channel Islands are an interesting research point given that the territory is surrounded by sea.
‘Now is the time that we should all start working together to try to reduce or stop the spread of this invasive species by way of educating the public and making everyone aware of what it looks like.
‘During this summer three people have died [in Spain] after receiving stings when they were cutting undergrowth near to their houses.
‘Unfortunately it is not the first, and will not be the last time, that the Asian hornet will sting a person with fatal results. It is vital we unite with a joint projection in the fight against the species, giving open and honest discussions of the current situation.’
Dr Feás said that since the Asian hornet became established in Galicia, calls to the region’s emergency services centre had increased by 183%.
Although the Asian hornet poses no greater a risk to human health than other stinging insects, the stings can be more severe and they can sting more than once.
People who suffer a severe allergic reaction – anaphylaxis – are most at risk, while those who have received multiple stings after disturbing nests have also accounted for fatalities in Europe.
Since it arrived in the French port of Marseilles in 2004, the Asian hornet has spread across western Europe and the Channel Islands. The first confirmed sighting in Jersey was in August 2016 and about 30 nests have been found in the Island since April.
Its capacity to reproduce on a prolific scale is evidenced by Dr Feás’s research in Galicia, where the first two nests were detected in 2012, rising to more than 10,600 in 2016.
Queen hornets establish colonies in the spring by creating primary nests. In late spring/early summer colonies move to larger secondary nests, each of which can hold up to 6,000 workers and 200 queens. A single hornet can kill 50 honey bees a day and each queen has the potential to form a new colony. They also prey on other key pollinating insects who, like bees, are essential for the natural growing cycle of food crops.
‘The Asian hornet is not only an issue for beekeepers,’ Dr Feás said. ‘Much of the feeding of these hornet colonies is based on bees and other insects, and although the impact they may have on the wild insect population is unknown, it has become a major threat to beekeeping and biodiversity.
‘It is also a threat to other productive sectors such as forestry and fruit growing and human activities in the landscape. The Asian hornet will undoubtedly profoundly alter our environment, affecting ecosystem processes and impacting on European society.’
Sightings of Asian hornets and nests, ideally with a photograph, should be emailed to environment@gov.je or reported by calling 441600.
