(DS) – Britain is braced for an invasion of “killer” Asian Hornets as 80 nests have already been found in the UK. The insects – which can grow up to 1.6 inches – have powerful stings which can be fatal to humans with just a single strike if the person is allergic. Record numbers of nests have been found on Jersey as there are fears they will move onto the mainland. The fight is on-going on the Channel Island and is seen as a crucial battle-ground to stop the spread.
Just one of the foreign menaces can eat up to 50 bees a day and their impact on honey production could be devastating. Asian Hornets – the Latin name is Vespa velutina – have spread rapidly throughout France since first arriving in Europe in a shipment of pot plants from China in 2004. The number of nests found in the Island has been growing year on year, with 17 found in 2017 and 55 found in 2018. Experts fear there could be up to 150 this year and say if that number is breached then the battle will have been lost. READ MORE
