Asian Hornet in Lancashire

[Beefriendly]

Sounds like they may be established. At this time of year the hornet is likely to be a newly emerged queen which is looking to establish a nest having been born last year......

https://www.cumbriacrack.com/2018/04/13/asian-hornet-identified-in-lancashire/

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

 

[Jimmy]

Traced back to Boston, Lincs, where there are many vegetable packers. They will be packing UK and imported veg, so it may not be a UK bred queen. Based on the very limited info, far more likely to have hitched a ride on some imported veg and become active once it was out of cold storage/transport.
There are many fruit and veg packers near my apiaries in the vale of Evesham and other local beekeepers have sentinel apiaries for SHB and Asian hornets. I'd be surprised if the Boston area didn't have something similar.

 

[Beefriendly]

Based on the very limited info, far more likely to have hitched a ride on some imported veg and become active once it was out of cold storage/transport.

The cauliflower it was found on/in was grown in Lincs. Not beyond possibility it jumped ship from some exotic import. We shall see.

 

[Jimmy]

The cauliflower it was found on/in was grown in Lincs. Not beyond possibility it jumped ship from some exotic import. We shall see.

Oh yes I've read it more thoroughly now.
Do you know if any of the DNA analysis of the UK Asian hornets has been published? From what I've heard and understood the epidemic front is genetically homogenous and there is more diversity where the hornet has been established for longer. My thought being that alongside trapping and searching in Boston, DNA testing may give a clue as to its origin.

The linked graphic on a Boston based veg packer and their seasonal sources, including Spain (which has Asian hornets) may be relevant.

http://http://www.staplesvegetables.co.uk/products.html

 

[Beefriendly]

DNA testing may give a clue as to its origin.

It may indeed.
The real problem is not where it came from or how it got here....simply the fact it IS here.

 

[Brian Bush]

Traced back to Boston, Lincs, where there are many vegetable packers. They will be packing UK and imported veg, so it may not be a UK bred queen. Based on the very limited info, far more likely to have hitched a ride on some imported veg and become active once it was out of cold storage/transport.
There are many fruit and veg packers near my apiaries in the vale of Evesham and other local beekeepers have sentinel apiaries for SHB and Asian hornets. I'd be surprised if the Boston area didn't have something similar.

 

[JWF]

The transfer across half the country on a cauliflower shows how difficult it's going to be to contain.

 

[Stiffy]

The cauliflower it was found on/in was grown in Lincs. Not beyond possibility it jumped ship from some exotic import. We shall see.

I would suggest it came over with workers employed to cut the caulis. Same as the Devon one is thought to have travelled with someone returning from France.
Hope any nests are quickly eradicated, will be setting traps today.
S

 

[mazzamazda]

Sounds like they may be established. At this time of year the hornet is likely to be a newly emerged queen which is looking to establish a nest having been born last year......

https://www.cumbriacrack.com/2018/04/13/asian-hornet-identified-in-lancashire/

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

I'd say way too early, I havent seen a single queen here, although I wishfully hope I have wiped them out. It needs to be about 18o before I see them and even then they are so slow, great to whack. I was in the UK (Cumbria) earlier on in the week and it was freezing, way too cold imo, it has come from a warmer climate.

 

[sean-a]

You'd hope that the cold weather this year would have killed off any overwintering, so it is an import.

 

[Beefriendly]

it has come from a warmer climate.

I hope you are right.
I am seeing a few queen wasps around when the weather warms up for an hour or so.

 

[MerryBee]

Where there is one hornet "spotted by a member of the public", the likelihood is there are more.

 

[mazzamazda]

I hope you are right.
I am seeing a few queen wasps around when the weather warms up for an hour or so.

I’ve seen quite a few queen wasps too, they tend to come out earlier

 

[mazzamazda]

Where there is one hornet "spotted by a member of the public", the likelihood is there are more.

If it’s a queen from a warmer climate probably no more will be found. Either way it will be a long time before the public will see workers, here it’s aroumd July/August before we usually see any after the queens emerge in spring.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Or just queen wasps.
The insect was spotted on a cauliflower, owner of said cauliflower looked on tinternet and identified it as an Asian hornet and reported it to APHA.
insect flew away before any positive identification took place.
SBI's have been mobilised in both the area of the sighting and where the cauliflower originated from.

 

[Karsal]

Or just queen wasps.
The insect was spotted on a cauliflower, owner of said cauliflower looked on tinternet and identified it as an Asian hornet and reported it to APHA.
insect flew away before any positive identification took place.
SBI's have been mobilised in both the area of the sighting and where the cauliflower originated from.

That is correct jenkinsbrynmair.
I've been to a bee club meeting today and heard that many bee inspectors are in the area where the Asian Hornet flew off from.
The worrying thing was they do believe it was a fertile queen.

It's not looking to great.

 

[Beefriendly]

The worrying thing was they do believe it was a fertile queen.

This reaction is a total contrast to the Devon Asian where they wouldn't act until they had proof. Presumably they are not inundated with calls at the moment.

 

[mazzamazda]

Or just queen wasps.
The insect was spotted on a cauliflower, owner of said cauliflower looked on tinternet and identified it as an Asian hornet and reported it to APHA.
insect flew away before any positive identification took place.
SBI's have been mobilised in both the area of the sighting and where the cauliflower originated from.

Great news, very much doubt it is a VV then

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

It is - there was a photograph

 

[mazzamazda]

It is - there was a photograph

Oh well it will be a queen then, it wont be very mobile in the UK temps.