Asian Hornet in Devon

Unfortunately there has been a confirmed sighting of the Asian Hornet in Woolacombe, Devon.

Some more details would be useful, if you can please.

Sorry, the news is just breaking. The sighting has been confirmed by the NBU. That is all I know.

Quis Custodiet said:

Some more details would be useful, if you can please.

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https://www.gov.uk/government/news/asian-hornet-identified-in-devon


60 miles from us.... just up the road from Hivemaker!!!


Probably imported in a box of French toffees!

Yeghes da

icanhopit said:

60 miles from us.... just up the road from Hivemaker!!!

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....down the road, about 35 miles down the road.

Hivemaker. said:

....down the road, about 35 miles down the road.

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Get the .410 out not the S410 .. lol

25 miles north of me

Is it too late to ask the Government to include the Asian Hornet in their Brexit negotiations / border controls agreement?

I believe it is inevitable that these little monsters will eventually inhabit the UK. Maybe we should look at education around hive protection and what else we can do to protect our colonies, whilst hopefully the boffins at various Universities look at ways to permanently remove them back to their native Asian regions.

Stands to reason:- we've had them here in Guernsey this summer and Devon is only a relatively short hop away.

6 miles from one of my apiaries

It's a pity the NBU is playing its card close to its chest. They have the hornet for DNA testing but they don't say whether they captured it or it was killed/captured/trapped by the beek or was it found dead (killed by the bees)?

I suppose the fact that it was found at an apiary means that it was alive in Devon at some time and found its way to a happy hunting ground near some hives.

The big question is "has it got any sisters with it?"

CVB

charlievictorbravo said:

The big question is "has it got any sisters with it?"

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and was it's mother and cousin found last year ...

Let's hope if there's a nest that it's found before queens start leaving to overwinter.

I believe a nest has been found. Not 100% sure though

jenkinsbrynmair said:

I believe a nest has been found. Not 100% sure though

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it has been found.

Unfortunately our association apiary manager has just reported seeing an Asian hornet hawking and taking a bee from the front of one of his own hives in his garden in Plymouth. Obviously he is waiting for the NBU to confirm the sighting, but he seemed pretty sure of what he saw.

What is it about Devon and exotic pests? Wasn't Varroa in the UK 1st found there?

masterBK said:

What is it about Devon and exotic pests? Wasn't Varroa in the UK 1st found there?

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Perhaps they're just more vigilant?

masterBK said:

What is it about Devon and exotic pests? Wasn't Varroa in the UK 1st found there?

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Good job BA isnt around or he would now be getting the blame for hornets as well!
S