First Asian Hornet sighting in four months

Wednesday 07 October 2020

An Asian Hornet sighting has been confirmed near at Pembroke.

It has been four months since the last sighting of the invasive predator in Guernsey, and the fifth hornet spotted on the island this year.

While the sighting could be a single hornet that has flown in from another jurisdiction, the Asian Hornet Team is unwilling to rule out the possibility of a nest that had not been previously identified.

Last year, a nest inside of a garden wall went undetected throughout summer, until its discovery and removal at the end of October.

The Asian Hornet Team will be trying to locate more hornets in the Pembroke area this week, hoping to track one back to the nest if it exists.

Pictured: One of the members of the Asian Hornet Team disposing of a nest found in a garden wall late last year.

“Even though things have been relatively quiet on the Asian Hornet front this year, we must always assume that there will be hornets nesting on the island somewhere that we don’t yet know about,” said Francis Russell, Project Coordinator of the Asian Hornet Strategy.

“It only takes one missed nest in the autumn for the populations to rapidly increase the year after, so please remain vigilant and report any suspicious-looking insects to the Asian Hornet Team.”

Islanders who believe they have spotted an Asian Hornet are asked to try and photograph it, and observe which direction it flies. The strategy is currently in its ‘Track don’t Trample’ phase, and islanders are being asked not to kill the hornets they encounter. 

If you spot an Asian Hornet inside of a building, try to contain it if possible. Details and photos should be sent to asianhornet@gov.gg. Alternatively, call 07839 197082. 

The Asian Hornet Team uses the records of these encounters to track worker hornets back to their nest, which could be anywhere from tall trees to low hedges and brambles. Gardeners and contractors are advised to check carefully for signs of activity before cutting back hedges and vegetation.