Should I be worried about the Asian hornet's arrival in
Northern Ireland?
It's a question many are asking after the Northern
Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) confirmed the first sighting of
the species in Dundonald on Monday. Further sightings of the species were
confirmed two days later and, by Saturday, a nest had
been located
and removed in the same area.
Environment Minister Andrew Muir has encouraged the
public to "remain vigilant" as "there could be more out
there".
Asian hornets pose no
greater threat to humans than native hornets, however they do pose a bigger threat to native
insects and have raised concerns among beekeepers and
environmentalists.
Why
is the Asian hornet a concern?
Tom Williamson, a former senior bee inspector for
Northern Ireland, said if the nest was releasing queens, that could be a
"worry" next spring.
A single Asian hornet nest can produce up to 350 gynes
(future queens).
If the captured nest had already released its gynes, some
may have mated before entering hibernation for the winter.
Once spring arrives next
year, those that survived will emerge and start building new nests.
What
do Asian hornets eat?
Asian hornets feed on more than 1,000 types of species.
Dr Archie Murchie, a senior principal scientific officer
at the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), said the Asian hornet preys
preferentially on honey bees but also on many other insect and spider species.
He told the BBC's Good Morning Ulster
programme that the insects in Northern Ireland "haven't
got the same defences that the natural prey for this hornet would have in
southeast Asia".
Richard Gray, the head of the biodiversity and wildlife
Branch at the NIEA, said the "aggressive predator" can have nests
with "up to 8,000 individual hornets or grubs".
All of those within the
hive need fed and the Asian hornet can eat up to 50 honey bees a day.
How
do Asian hornets affect bees?
Asian hornets display predatory behaviour, including
hawking in which they hover near hives.
Mr Williamson, a County Armagh beekeeper, said this
behaviour typically takes place from mid to late summer and can prevent bees
from foraging, causing them to starve.
"Beekeepers are worried and quite rightly so,
because while it starts to hawk at hives, bees would sit at the hives and not
come in and out," he said.
"So they'll not get their honey and they'll not
pollinate.
"It's more the environment that will be affected if bees aren't able to take part in the pollination of a lot of our hedgerows and trees that maybe aren't farmed by humans, but they are good sources for other birds and insects out there.
What
can be done to manage the Asian hornet threat?
Valentine Hodges, a beekeeper in County Down and the
chair of the Ulster Beekeepers Association (UBKA), is "very worried"
about the invasive species.
She said it will have a "big impact on biodiversity
and on pollinator services" and has raised concerns about the lack of a bee
inspectorate in Northern Ireland.
In England, bee inspectors have been
playing their part in the fight against the Asian hornet.
"A bee inspector who has a bit of experience and
training and knowledge about this would be a big help," Mr Williamson
said.
He said a trained bee inspector "could have a big
input into quickly and efficiently finding nests and handing that over to the
teams that would then destroy the nest".
Bee inspectors are responsible for supporting
bee health.
In April, the Department
of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) said recruitment was
under way. An update has been requested.
What
about nests in public areas?
Mr Williamson also raised concerns over Asian hornet
nests in public areas.
"Once they become established there's a danger level
to the public if they disturb a nest."
Asian hornet nests are often found in hedges or near to
the ground.
"If you don't know
they are there and disturb them you're at big risk because they will
strenuously defend their nests," he added.
Brian Grzymek is the chair of an All-Ireland Beekeepers
Action Group
What
action is being taken?
Following the initial sighting, live traps were deployed
to monitor Asian hornet activity.
After further confirmed sightings, track-and-trace
methods were used to locate and remove the nest.
The NIEA said ongoing monitoring will continue to ensure
there is no further hornet activity in the area.
Brian Grzymek, the vice-chair of UBKA and the chair of an
All-Ireland Beekeepers Action Group, has been working on an Asian hornet
contingency plan since April.
Due to this work, Mr Grzymek said Northern Ireland was
"quite well equipped" for the insects arrival.
He said an NI contingency
plan is being updated at the moment and the draft plan will be shared with the
UBKA.
The insect, which is about 2cm long, feeds on more than
1,000 species
How
is the Asian hornet able to survive in NI?
The species
could have arrived by natural spread or by hitch-hiking upon
imported goods.
Dr Archie Murchie told
BBC News NI that Northern Ireland's climate is at the Asian hornet's
"limit" because it is typically colder and wetter.
