April 2024 The first Asian hornet of the year has been found in Ash in Kent. On the 11th March the NBU received confirmation of an Asian hornet found in a potting shed in Ash, Kent. The finding was around 5 miles from a nest found and destroyed in 2023 near Canterbury. The details for the early season monitoring work are currently being finalised by the NBU so additional surveillance close to the finding site will be included in these plans. There was also a single unconfirmed sighting in Preston, Lincolnshire, and a dead Asian hornet in Romford, East London. March 2024 Following the Asian hornet conference in February the BBKA Asian hornet team has published the new Asian yellow legged hornet nest identification poster from the NNSS. Some useful links for future reading: www.facebook.com/TheBritishBeekeepersAssociation/posts/pfbid0fgVBgc2JVMy17ShhTnUsXq2o3Znky3GeSoUfhNj4LecCNsboXuVr2FYfFt6nEaoSl www.facebook.com/TheBritishBeekeepersAssociation/posts/pfbid0PsZMf1GXtxTU3BBun5TJQWC1xdvxomeFyqHTkE2QnWQjiX68V6Pu38VKSWWMXiM8l https://chiswickcalendar.co.uk/a-bit-of-a-hornets-nest/ www.bbc.com/future/article/20240206-the-bees-learning-to-fight-off-invasive-hornets https://kingston.nub.news/news/local-news/queen-bees-need-you-royal-parks-charity-asks-visitors-to-go-bee-spotting-221380?fbclid=IwAR1dhcDbTAshSZmSOhkYtmWyB_sB8vEGY1BUJ7T73_VDXsT2x14y5vhwu4A www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/68331603 Youtube link to the Asian hornet H Conference, from Saturday 17th February: www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUMk2tzaw1E February 2024 On Thursday 24th January the National Bee Unit notified the BBKA that they had received a credible sighting of a lone Asian hornet in Hastings, East Sussex. It is not expected to find Asian hornets flying until later in the year, nevertheless local volunteer Asian hornet teams will be asked to be alert and monitor for Asian hornets in the area. January 2024 In 2023 there have been 72 Asian hornet nests found in 56 locations across 10 counties. It has been difficult to keep up with the details with most days bringing an increase in the number of sightings. Currently, however, West Sussex is apparently free from the hornet. A number of members recently joined Hampshire Beekeepers at their Asian hornet conference near Winchester. It was a day of discussion and reflection on the past season and will no doubt influence our own strategy for dealing with the Asian hornet in 2024. Graphs below courtesy of the BBKA—a chilling reminder of what may lie ahead! Further sightings in Kent are the most recent. However, the NBU surveillance has now been closed down as the season has drawn to a close. Analysis of nests this autumn has confirmed the presence of gynes and drones in some nests. Gynes have also been identified from lone samples. The NBU are skilled at tracking, locating, and destroying nests, but can only respond to sightings with sufficient evidence, such as a photograph or sample. Credible reports are continuing to decrease and are often related to an incident the NBU are already aware of. The NBU are continuing surveillance in the Kent area and post-destruction monitoring of nest sites. Tenterden and Deal have been added to the sightings recently and a number of sites in Kent continue to be monitored. |