Killer Asian hornets reignite their invasion of UK as first insects of 2022 discovered

dailystar.co.uk:

Asian hornets have reignited their invasion of the UK as the first insects of 2022 have been found.The Channel Islands was the first part of the country where an insect was found earlier this week, signalling a "fresh wave" of an invasion coming over from France.Asian hornet project coordinator Francis Russell said the intrusion began when one was caught in Alderney last Tuesday (April 12).A second hornet was then reported dead on the roadside in the village of L’Islet in Guernsey this week while another was caught in a queening trap in a garden on the island on Thursday (April 21).The sightings have prompted a fresh warning to islanders to be vigilant to the fresh wave of invaders.Mr Russell said: "We think these are coming fresh from France.

The wind is set to be north-easterly through the next week."We tend to get Asian hornets during north-easterly winds or just afterwards.

I think this is the start. I think more will be found."The number of queens found on the Channel Islands is expected to rise as the summer approaches.Both Jersey and Guernsey are seen as the frontline in the fight against the deadly insects and say the increase is caused by them "blowing in" from mainland Europe by strong easterly winds.This is expected to lead to another summer-long battle to stop the spread of the insects that could decimate the UK's native bee population.But experts say there is cause for optimism as the fact the insects are being found quite late in the spring means they are likely travellers coming from France, rather than ones that have been on the island over the winter.In comparison more than 20 hornets have already been found in Jersey so far this year, as well as two primary nests.The species began to spread through.