Ballard Water Meadow and the Threat of Hornets

You may have noticed warnings both in the press and on posters around Ballard Water Meadow regarding the Asian hornet; the posters have been put up by the Friends of Ballard Water Meadow for your information.

There have been hornets in the UK for many years, of course, but this one is darker and is causing more concern. The European hornet is slightly larger and more yellow, indeed, it looks like a large wasp. Generally they are quite laid-back and only aggressive if they or their nests are threatened. They eat wasps, moths and large bees. They do sting, of course and this can cause some discomfort and irritation, predictably more than that of a wasp, but such attacks are rare.

They may have visited New Milton and Ballard Water Meadows in the past but not very often and without being noticed.

The Asian hornet is believed to have been accidentally imported from China to France in 2004. This Asian version is more aggressive and has caused some problems with anaphylactic shock across the Channel. They do carry more venom than their European counterpart.

Perhaps the most worrying aspect of this new invasive species is that it is a much more effective hunter of already beleaguered bees and will hover outside a hive, picking off residents as they leave. It can also affect other species beneficial to our environment. Bee colonies in Asia have adapted a defence against this predator by working together to smother the attacker but, of course, our honeybees have not learned this approach yet.

The press have had a field day, producing the usual panicked headlines such as “invasion of the monster predators.” The first sighting of a specimen was in Gloucester and there have been reports of more in Kent and Sussex, although it is not clear whether these might include European hornets.

Bee keepers and environmental groups have devised a way of reducing hornet populations, but it is important for any sightings to be reported to the Great British Non Native Species Secretariat so any populations can be monitored and dealt with. If it is safe to do so, photographs would be very useful too.

No such hornets have been reported in Ballard Water Meadow, or indeed New Milton, but we would ask you to keep your eyes open when out and about.

If you want to know more about the Asian Hornet, please visit the National Bee Unit’s website.