An “unprecedented” number of early suspected sightings of Asian hornets has raised fears of a surge in the UK population.
Experts are warning of the potential impact on key native pollinators, with the hornets – which are capable of killing 50 honey bees a day – having already devastated colonies and severely reduced honey production in parts of France and Italy.
Researchers in Jersey – the largest of the Channel Islands between England and France – have reported an unprecedented number of early sightings of Vespa velutina, whose sting causes an allergic reaction that can lead to fatal anaphylactic shock in extremely rare cases.
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The insects are already well-established on the island after migrating there from mainland Europe nine years ago.
But now queens are emerging in unprecedented numbers.
Each one can produce a nest containing up to 10,000 hornets, as reported by Need To Know.
On Tuesday (15 April), John De Carteret, a founding member of the Jersey Asian Hornet Group, appealed for help.
He said: “A significant day here in Jersey as we surpassed the 400th Asian hornet queen of 2025.
“The only other year that we have seen this many Asian hornet queens was 2023 – but we didn’t reach that number until June 12.
“What these numbers might indicate is unclear.
“But we really do need more volunteers to assist.
“The numbers are both very high and very early.
“But we have some very experienced volunteers and hundreds of members of the general public now involved in trapping the queens.
“One of our volunteers has caught 33 himself and the group, comprising members of the public he manages has caught 78 in 54 traps.
“So we have become very good at putting traps in the right places which might be one of the reasons we’re catching more not solely that there are more to be caught.
“But all the queens appearing now are from Jersey nests last autumn.
“They emerge, mate and hibernate over winter then come out at this time of year, normally when the temperature reaches about 15 degrees.
“They seem to be in two main areas, along our north east coast, where the French mainland is only 12 miles away and we’ve recently had a lot of NE winds and it been estimated that on a following wind they could fly over in 15 minutes.
“Secondly a cluster around the port and our capital of St Helier.
“Where ferries and other shipping arrives from France everyday.
“But we have to accept that after nine years there is now a local population.
“Our ongoing problem is our closeness to France which means that every spring we are likely to get new arrivals.”
The Government of Jersey has issued identification and reporting guidance about Asian hornets.
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