Asian hornets in Tetbury

[gavin]

Looks like it has finally happened

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/sep/20/threat-honeybees-asian-hornet-arrival-uk-confirmed-defra-invasive-species
(https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/sep/20/threat-honeybees-asian-hornet-arrival-uk-confirmed-defra-invasive-species)
And here is the official press release .....

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/asian-hornet-identified-in-gloucestershire

[Calluna4u]

Yep....got a direct email this morning Gavin.

Its a mere 13 miles as the crow flies from my bees near Cirencester and Swindon.

Not going to over react though, as in much of France, particular pockets aside, its serious nuisance rather than a disaster. Will see what unfolds over the seasons to come. Will be quite a while before it builds up to something major, if ever.

[gavin]

Yep....got a direct email this morning Gavin.

Its a mere 13 miles as the crow flies from my bees near Cirencester and Swindon.


That's worrying (for you).

This paper has maps with predictions based on climate data that seem reassuring for Scotland. However I've been a scientist long enough to know that the value of predictive modelling can be ... well, not as great as it seems at the time. It isn't always climate that matters but - for a free living social hornet - climate possibly is king.

http://www.nev.nl/pages/publicaties/proceedings/nummers/22/39-46.pdf

It is said that perhaps the biggest issue with it is that the presence of the hornet causes colonies to shut down foraging - hence it may strongly depress honey yields.

G.

[Greengage]

OK Im no scientist either, but one Hornet is not a plague, how did it arrive and will it survive.Did I read here or somewhere else a beekeeper had a problem eating with his dog eating his honey bees he equated this to a loss in honey production and had the dog put down, when asked how many bees the dog was eating a week he guesstimated 30.???

[fatshark]

Asian hornet in Gloucestershire ... disappointing but perhaps inevitable news.



It is said that perhaps the biggest issue with it is that the presence of the hornet causes colonies to shut down foraging - hence it may strongly depress honey yields.

G.

I may never notice if it arrives in Fife ...

[Calluna4u]

That's worrying (for you).

It is said that perhaps the biggest issue with it is that the presence of the hornet causes colonies to shut down foraging - hence it may strongly depress honey yields.

G.

Not greatly worried. What will be will be. Not going to be losing any sleep over it any time soon and in the end a problem presents challenges that filter out those who cannot or choose not to cope with it.

Its terribly easy to get over stressed and there are plenty out there who like ratchetting up the worry levels.

As for the reduced honey crop. The percentage reduction from approx. zero in that area this year does not cause issues lol.....but most years its a good area.

[fatshark]

Tetbury is much further North and West than I'd have expected landfall ... I wouldn't be at all surprised to find additional sites closer to the South coast and/or in Kent. I'm assuming it/they/she arrived self-propelled on predominantly southerly winds.

I've skim-read the paper on climate modelling (thanks Gavin) ... Figure 3 is somewhat less than reassuring (where they match climatic regions with an area - Limoges - where the hornet is already established in France) but the rest looks OK for us North of the border ... remembering of course that modelling is an informed prediction (or 'often wrong' as some scientists say).

Perhaps we should all hope for a really brutal winter.

[gavin]

It is said that long distance movement could be by natural dispersal or man-assisted via hitchhiking, the horticultural trade, or the timber trade as it can hibernate under bark.

Given that a worker was detected in Tetbury it seems very likely that at least one queen has established a nest in the area. Bad news as, by this time of the year, sexual forms may well be dispersing.

[Greengage]

Given that a worker was detected in Tetbury it seems very likely that at least one queen has established a nest in the area. Bad news as, by this time of the year, sexual forms may well be dispersing.
Surly if a queen has established there would be more than one male, if he is the only one and there are lots of females lurking in the woods he is going to be a busy boy.:p
Maybe he is sterile like all the drones that are flying around Cork here in Ireland.
Time to lock up the children this guy can swallow wood and move buckets .http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3111534/It-s-invasion-huge-European-hornet-spotted-anxious-British-public-seek-solace-extremely-aggressive-two-inch-insects-feed-BEES-paving-way-arrival-deadly-Asian-cousins.html Since yea are no longer in Europe there will be no grants to help you get rid of the invasion, your on your own.:D

[gavin]

Here is last night's post on http://www.nationalbeeunit.com/public/News/news.cfm#176

September 2016 - Asian hornet nest found and destroyed An Asian hornet nest (image 1) (https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/beebase/downloadNews.cfm?id=142) has been located and destroyed by experts in the Tetbury area. The nest (image 2) (https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/beebase/downloadNews.cfm?id=143) was found at the top of a 55 foot tall conifer tree (image 3) (https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/beebase/downloadNews.cfm?id=144). Inspectors from the National Bee Unit are continuing to monitor the area for Asian hornets alongside local beekeepers. However to date, no live hornets have been seen since the nest was removed.

We urge anyone to report suspect Asian hornet sightings to alertnonnative@ceh.ac.uk.

Further guidance on the Asian hornet can be found on the Asian hornet pages of Beebase where you will find a very useful Asian hornet ID sheet (https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/beebase/downloadNews.cfm?id=138) sheet and Asian hornet poster (https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/beebase/downloadNews.cfm?id=137) which is available for identification purposes.

With the images:

http://www.nationalbeeunit.com/downloadNews.cfm?id=142

http://www.nationalbeeunit.com/downloadNews.cfm?id=143

http://www.nationalbeeunit.com/downloadNews.cfm?id=144

[gavin]

From an earlier statement:

Asian Hornet update. Following the recent discovery of two Asian Hornet (Vespa velutina) workers near Tetbury in Gloucestershire, Bee Inspectors from the National Bee Unit have visited over 100 sites in the local area. Asian Hornets were found at six locations within 500m of the original sighting.

Impressive scale of search but it does make me wonder ....

- flights of Asian hornet workers seem rather short if the six locations were within 500m of the original sighting
- only one site of six with hunting hornets was reported, the others found by inspectors

This all seems a bit needle in a haystack. There must be a chance that there are more out there and this nest wasn't established by the first queen to make it to these shores. If the radius affected is short and most folk with bee hives don't notice or report the issue then it would be easy for there to be others and we're just seeing the colony of one daughter or grand-daughter of the first one.

Also interested to hear whether there was evidence either way about new queens produced by this colony. It looks a fair size.

[greengumbo]

From an earlier statement:

Asian Hornet update. Following the recent discovery of two Asian Hornet (Vespa velutina) workers near Tetbury in Gloucestershire, Bee Inspectors from the National Bee Unit have visited over 100 sites in the local area. Asian Hornets were found at six locations within 500m of the original sighting.

Impressive scale of search but it does make me wonder ....

- flights of Asian hornet workers seem rather short if the six locations were within 500m of the original sighting
- only one site of six with hunting hornets was reported, the others found by inspectors

This all seems a bit needle in a haystack. There must be a chance that there are more out there and this nest wasn't established by the first queen to make it to these shores. If the radius affected is short and most folk with bee hives don't notice or report the issue then it would be easy for there to be others and we're just seeing the colony of one daughter or grand-daughter of the first one.

Also interested to hear whether there was evidence either way about new queens produced by this colony. It looks a fair size.

That nest is impressive! They are such cool insects.....a pity they are / can be so devastating. Sounds like the NBU have done well and I am sure they are thinking similar questions to yourself Gav. Amazing this can go undetected. I wonder if the nest was removed intact or destroyed in situ ? Maybe if the former could it be examined for signs of queen dispersal ?

[Jon]

Was the nest removed and examined?
There would probably be evidence of any queen production.

[greengumbo]

Was the nest removed and examined?
There would probably be evidence of any queen production.

What would the evidence be Jon ? Interesting to know.

[Jon]

I am supposing that queens are raised in special cells and there would be queen larvae or young queens present.

[gavin]

Okey dokey, it's all kicking off now ......

http://www.nationalbeeunit.com/public/News/news.cfm#177
(http://www.nationalbeeunit.com/public/News/news.cfm#177)
October 2016 - A confirmed finding of Asian hornet north of the Mendip Hills in Somerset

As with the first sighting, work to find, destroy and remove any nests is already underway, and includes:

• setting up a three mile surveillance zone around the location of the initial sighting
• opening a local control centre to coordinate the response
• deploying bee inspectors across the area who will use infrared cameras and traps to locate any nests
• readying nest disposal experts who will use pesticides to kill the hornets and destroy any nests

Bee inspectors in Somerset will be supported by nest disposal experts who will use an approved pesticide to destroy any hornets and remove any nests.

The first Asian hornet confirmed in the UK was discovered in the Tetbury area. A nest in the area has since been found, treated with pesticide and destroyed. No further live Asian hornets have been sighted in the area since the nest was removed.

Husbandry Advice:

It is very important that beekeepers remain vigilant and monitor their apiaries and surrounding forage for any Asian hornet activity. At this time of the year, Asian hornets can be seen foraging on the ivy for nectar and preying on other foraging insects for protein.

Traps should also be hung out and closely monitored. When using bait, please refrain from using light beer or lager mixed with sugar as this does not work. In France a Dark beer, mixed with 25ml of strawberry syrup and 25ml of orange liqueur has proven to work well.
Additionally, a protein bait of mashed fish e.g. prawns or trout, diluted to 25% has also proven effective. Anyone wishing to make their own traps may find the following factsheet useful: How to make a homemade Asian hornet monitoring trap (https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/beebase/downloadNews.cfm?id=145).

Further guidance on identifying the Asian hornet can be found on the Asian hornet pages of Beebase where you will find a very useful Asian hornet ID sheet (https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/beebase/downloadNews.cfm?id=146) and Asian hornet poster (https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/beebase/downloadNews.cfm?id=147). Any suspected Asian hornet sightings should be reported to alertnonnative@ceh.ac.uk.

If you are not sure, please still send in a sample for ID or report any sightings. When emailing, please include your name, the location of the sighting and if possible, a photograph of the hornet. Please do not put yourself in any danger of getting stung when trying to take a photo.

[greengumbo]

Okey dokey, it's all kicking off now ......

http://www.nationalbeeunit.com/public/News/news.cfm#177
(http://www.nationalbeeunit.com/public/News/news.cfm#177)
October 2016 - A confirmed finding of Asian hornet north of the Mendip Hills in Somerset

As with the first sighting, work to find, destroy and remove any nests is already underway, and includes:

• setting up a three mile surveillance zone around the location of the initial sighting
• opening a local control centre to coordinate the response
• deploying bee inspectors across the area who will use infrared cameras and traps to locate any nests
• readying nest disposal experts who will use pesticides to kill the hornets and destroy any nests

Bee inspectors in Somerset will be supported by nest disposal experts who will use an approved pesticide to destroy any hornets and remove any nests.

The first Asian hornet confirmed in the UK was discovered in the Tetbury area. A nest in the area has since been found, treated with pesticide and destroyed. No further live Asian hornets have been sighted in the area since the nest was removed.

Husbandry Advice:

It is very important that beekeepers remain vigilant and monitor their apiaries and surrounding forage for any Asian hornet activity. At this time of the year, Asian hornets can be seen foraging on the ivy for nectar and preying on other foraging insects for protein.

Traps should also be hung out and closely monitored. When using bait, please refrain from using light beer or lager mixed with sugar as this does not work. In France a Dark beer, mixed with 25ml of strawberry syrup and 25ml of orange liqueur has proven to work well.
Additionally, a protein bait of mashed fish e.g. prawns or trout, diluted to 25% has also proven effective. Anyone wishing to make their own traps may find the following factsheet useful: How to make a homemade Asian hornet monitoring trap (https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/beebase/downloadNews.cfm?id=145).

Further guidance on identifying the Asian hornet can be found on the Asian hornet pages of Beebase where you will find a very useful Asian hornet ID sheet (https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/beebase/downloadNews.cfm?id=146) and Asian hornet poster (https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/beebase/downloadNews.cfm?id=147). Any suspected Asian hornet sightings should be reported to alertnonnative@ceh.ac.uk.

If you are not sure, please still send in a sample for ID or report any sightings. When emailing, please include your name, the location of the sighting and if possible, a photograph of the hornet. Please do not put yourself in any danger of getting stung when trying to take a photo.

So what your saying is I need to brew more dark beers.

[fatshark]

Isn't he also saying it's clearly moving South West and is therefore no threat to Scottish beekeeping ... unlike your dark beer?

[alancooper]

Gavin quoted "When using bait, please refrain from using light beer or lager mixed with sugar as this does not work. In France a Dark beer, mixed with 25ml of strawberry syrup and 25ml of orange liqueur has proven to work well."
This French bait sounds much too delicious to feed to hornets - I will try it tonight if the barman in my local will make it for me.
Alan.

[gavin]

Isn't he also saying it's clearly moving South West and is therefore no threat to Scottish beekeeping ... unlike your dark beer?

My spies in Sand Hutton tell me that their array of harmonic radar devices detected a front of Vespa velutina queens heading roughly NE and making for Aberdeenshire. Apparently they stopped off at one of Murray's apiaries mere miles from Tetbury where they heard tales of summer weather in Aberdeenshire ... and so a few stopped in their tracks and set up home nearby but the rest turned round and headed back to La Manche. You should be safe for a while, GG.

That cocktail sounds fearsome, Alan. Let us know what the hangover feels like.