The Asian Hornet Watch app was developed in the UK but is being used to log sightings here.
Out of 73 reports received by the States so far this year, there have been 24 confirmed sightings of the invasive species, which were first recorded in Jersey in 2016.
Eleven sightings were made over the Easter bank holiday weekend, according to Asian hornet co-ordinator Alastair Christie.
One queen was even recorded at the Ecréhous last week. It is thought it was blown there from France by the north-easterly wind.
Mr Christie said that he believed the number of sightings was due to a greater awareness about the species, which is a highly aggressive predator of native insects and poses a significant threat to honey bees and other pollinators.
‘It’s not surprising given the time, weather and people being out and about and being more observant,’ he said.
Mr Christie was appointed earlier this year by the States and is working with the Jersey Asian Hornet Group and others to record sightings and reduce the number of nests.
The app, which is available on the Apple and Android app stores, allows users to take and send pictures and provide co-ordinates of where sightings are made.
Only the queens are active at the moment, having hibernated during the winter.
They are currently building or occupying primary nests while their lavae develop into worker hornets.
But once that happens, the workers will help build secondary nests and expand the colony with thousands more hornets swelling their numbers.
Mr Christie is working with researchers at Exeter University to study what the queens are eating so they can develop bait that will attract them to hornet traps.
The work to identify where the well-camouflaged nests are continues with the help of volunteers.
Last year 55 nests were destroyed, but it is expected there could be up to 150 found this year.
There are 52 people registered as volunteers but Mr Christie wants to expand that to 100.
‘Some of the jobs are specialised, but some aren’t and no previous experience is needed,’ he explained.
‘We need people with good eyesight who can follow an insect across a field and search trees to find a nest.’
Those interested in volunteering can get in touch with Mr Christie by emailing asianhornet@gov.je or by phoning 441633, which can also be used to report sightings.
