Heads up.

[Into the lions den]

Just a note to keep your eyes peeled.

My team spotted 'a hornet' taking bees at an apiary near Hereford yesterday.

They failed to catch it as it was very fast and retreated every time they tried but came back after 10 mins or so each time. Sitting on hive top and then taking to the air and hunting bees.

This is NOT a report of Asian hornet as the team could not definitely identify it, and showing them all the pictures I have they think it PROBABLY the European hornet. however good cause for vigilance.

Have left a message for RBI.

 

[Hebeegeebee]

Vigilance note taken!
I think we are all concerned about Asian Hornets.
However Vespa Crabro, the European hornet does not seem to pose a problem. We had a nest a short distance away with no issues (son climbed a tree and came face to face with it - about a foot away and a buttock clenching moment) and those we find caught in wasp catchers are released.

 

[beeno]

The European hornet hunts systematically around my hives every year.

 

[tidymeup]

I have also watched European hornets hunt bees here in Cheshire. There very good at catching them.

 

[user 6228]

Had to remove one from the bedroom a few days ago...

impressive insect

 

[Helen]

Whilst picking up a swarm that had got into the eaves of a shed last year, a couple of hornets were doing 'dog fights' with the bees right around me. Got a close up view of hornets trying to tackle honey bees on the wing.

 

[maddydog]

Early reports on Twitter of a hornet caught near Wolverhampton. Not the greatest photo as the beast was caught beneath a glass. Head looked European but the abdomen looked brown with a single band? Poster swears it had yellow legs but can't be confirmed as it's now in the bin!
Probably a pile of poo.

 

[Codford]

Early reports on Twitter of a hornet caught near Wolverhampton. Not the greatest photo as the beast was caught beneath a glass. Head looked European but the abdomen looked brown with a single band? Poster swears it had yellow legs but can't be confirmed as it's now in the bin!
Probably a pile of poo.

Link: https://twitter.com/lewscott85/status/997525393094701057?s=20

 

[TryingToLetThemBee]

Link: https://twitter.com/lewscott85/status/997525393094701057?s=20

The guy acknowledges at about post 3 that it is European but the Twitterverse had to have its little meltdown anyway.

 

[Goran]

Just a note to keep your eyes peeled.

My team spotted 'a hornet' taking bees at an apiary near Hereford yesterday.

They failed to catch it as it was very fast and retreated every time they tried but came back after 10 mins or so each time. Sitting on hive top and then taking to the air and hunting bees.

This is NOT a report of Asian hornet as the team could not definitely identify it, and showing them all the pictures I have they think it PROBABLY the European hornet. however good cause for vigilance.

Have left a message for RBI.

Asian hornet is said to be cruising in front of the hive ( rarely standing on the hive), and in action it seems to be couple at same time. But in reality in action at same time are hundreds of them ( ones which catch the prey leave, others come). This is what I heard from first hand experience from France.
European hornets knows to stand sometimes beneath roof edge and atack, also cruising but mostly in motion over multiple hives not concentrating on one hive. This is what I observe all the time.

 

[birdsandbees]

European Hornets were visiting my hives at one apiary last year, catching bees on the wing with relative ease!
one Nuc had worked out a very good defensive strategy, as soon as a hornet started hovering near the entrance a single bee would fly out up and above the Hornet and dive bomb it sending the hornet with bee attached to the floor, the Hornets didn't like this and flew off every time empty handed!

I caught this on video and slowed it down to see it as it happened so quickly