Deadly hornet swarm headed for Britain; Ireland safe for now
A swarm of Asian predatory wasps is set to invade Britain according to media reports.
Experts have said the hornets are making their way towards southern parts of England after arriving in France, believed to be in boxes of Chinese pottery, in 2005.
The wasps are said to be highly aggressive in groups and if stung can cause anaphylactic shock and kidney failure in humans.
A report in today’s Independent has said that the Environment Agency and Natural England are rapidly developing plans to tackle the hornets, as they could devastate the natural bee population.
The Vespa velutina or Asian predatory wasp is smaller than its European equivalent with queens measuring around 30mm and males coming in at about 24mm.
We spoke to the Federation of Irish Beekeepers' Associations who’ve informed us that Ireland is not under threat for now.
They say while there is always a chance of the hornet entering the country as a stowaway, our climate is simply “too cold” for them to survive at the moment.
Yet another reason to fear climate change then!
