The National Beekeepers' Association have a message they want parish and town councisl to share on their websites and social media accounts.
Hello,
I'm the outreach officer for the British Beekeepers' Association, working alongside Defra and the National Bee Unit to help raise awareness of the invasive species, the yellow-legged 'Asian' hornet, in their communities.
I'm attempting to reach out to as many people as possible about this issue, as it is one of not only environmental and financial importance, but could have significant public safety implications too.
As you may already be aware, yellow-legged hornets are voracious predators of honey bees and other vital pollinators, placing a further strain on our already fragile ecosystem. This could have grave implications for our native wildlife, potentially impacting our farming industry and food chain.
Furthermore, these insects also react aggressively if they perceive a threat to their nest, which can often be built low to the ground and in places where they could be easily disturbed. Therefore it is of vital importance that members of the public, as well as those working in outdoor industries, know how to correctly identify and report yellow-legged hornets, and how to keep themselves safe in the event of a potential nest discovery.
Numbers have been increasing steadily, particularly in areas in the south east and along the south coast, since their introduction into the UK back in 2016 with a huge jump in sightings and nests in 2023.
Dorset is particularly vulnerable to yellow-legged hornet incursions and establishment, due to its rural nature, coastline and proximity to northern Europe, where the insects are now prolific. The aggressive nature of the hornets, their impact on communities, and the financial and practical challenges of having to trace and destroy nests once the species is established, are now well documented in those areas of Europe where spread has occurred. Awareness and action now could help prevent a much bigger problem further down the line.
The BBKA has teams of volunteers across the country working to raise as much awareness as possible. I'm contacting you today in the hope you can please help us with these efforts? I have attached a number of resources below, including posters and fact sheets that could be printed off and placed in prominent positions.
I have also attached a social media graphic, suitable for Facebook use - if you would like versions created for other platforms please do let me know.
I will be moving on from my role with the BBKA at the end of the week, my final day being Friday 21st February. If you require further assistance in this matter, please contact me before that date, or email the BBKA's Asian Hornet Coordinator for Dorset, Imogen Roussel, at
Alternatively, the BBKA office can be reached via the contact form here: www.bbka.org.uk/Pages/Contact
Many thanks and kind regards,
Kirsteen Thorne
RESOURCES:
Asian Hornet Nest ID Info Sheet
Have you seen this insect poster
