On Monday 24 September Asian Hornets were reported near Beaulieu.
The Inspectors are trying to locate the nest. The rapid response at New
Alresford highlights the importance of public awareness of this species
and
the Great Britain Non-Native Species Secretariat is encouraging people
to be vigilant and to report sightings of the Asian Hornet.
They can be aggressive as this report from France shows:
A 57-year-old man from the Calvados departent of Normandy died recently after being attacked by the insects. The man was pronounced dead at the scene while another woman was treated in hospital after being stung several times. The death is just the latest linked to the insects that were accidentally introduced to France back in 2004 and which are responsible for decimating local bee populations.
In August a farmer from the far north of France was stung by an Asian hornet as he got into his car. Minutes later he fell unconscious while driving and crashed his car into a post. He died from a severe anaphylactic shock -- in other words, he suffered a deadly allergic reaction to the sting.
And a woman died in the Manche department of Normandy after suffering a similar fatal reaction to being stung by Asian hornets in her garden.
There have been other fatalities too, including a Dutch tourist who died at a campsite in the Drôme due to a heart attack after being stung.
Source: https://www.thelocal.fr/20180919/asian-hornets-claim-another-victim-in-france
If an Asian Hornet is seen it can be reported as soon as possible via an
online form, the
Hornet Watch app; or by sending a picture to the alert email address:
alertnonnative@ceh.ac.uk
For more information please go to
www.nonnativespecies.org/
