Fears for our bees as killer Asian hornet spotted in UK

AN Asian hornet has been spotted in Britain amid fears they could invade the country and destroy the honeybee population.

The hornet was spotted in Hampshire and beekeepers have been told to remain vigilant.

The insects have already caused devastation across France – after they were accidentally imported in 2004 – and have since spread to other countries such as Italy and Spain.

Invasive Asian hornets pose a serious risk to honeybees as they wait outside hives and capture workers as they go in and out. The bees are then fed to their young.

The sighting in Gosport is the first since October, when two nests were found and destroyed in Dorset.

And experts have warned that hundreds of thousands of Asian hornets could invade the UK over the next two decades.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs yesterday told beekeepers and the public to keep an eye out for the hornets, pictured, which have orange faces and larger heads in relation to their body size than other wasps.

It said: ‘By ensuring we are alerted to possible sightings as early as possible, we can take swift action to stamp out the threat posed by Asian hornets.’

Anyone who suspects they have seen one should report it using the Asian Hornet Watch app or using Defra’s online form.