Sussex bees under threat as local beekeepers prepare for an influx of killer hornets

Asian hornets, also known as Vespa velutina, kill bee colonies by hovering outside hives and eating bees.

Queens emerge from hibernation in early spring in a temperature of just 12 degrees Celsius.

Beekeepers from the Brighton & Lewes Beekeepers’ Association (B&LBKA) are mounting a publicity campaign to raise awareness of the threat.

Manek Dubash, Asian Hornet Action Team co-ordinator at the B&LBKA, said: “Honey bees are under threat as never before.

“Beekeepers, both amateur and commercial, are battling against the multi-pronged threats of pesticides, habitat and forage destruction, and invasive parasites.

“Honey bees are key pollinators for a vast range of plants, including many on which we all depend.

“Asian hornets are a new threat which could tip many honey bee colonies over the edge, making them unviable.”

Beekeepers and the public can identify the Asian hornet through its yellow legs, orange face and distinctive dark abdomen with a single yellow or orange stripe on the fourth segment.

They are slightly smaller than the native European hornet, which looks like a large wasp.

Although the hornets are not especially aggressive to humans, nests should not be approached and members of the public are being asked to look out for the hornets with posters appearing in garden centres, golf clubs and other outdoor areas.

British honey bees have little defence against the Asian hornet which is now established in France and the Channel Islands.

A few individual Asian hornets were found in the UK in the last year and three nests were found and destroyed.

However, beekeepers believe that numbers could rise as the hornets travel to the UK on the wind or with shipped goods.

In the event of an Asian hornet sighting, members of the public should photograph the hornet and send the image to any beekeeper or Manek Dubash at [email protected] for identification.

Sightings should also be reported to [email protected]

More information can be found at this website.