Asian Hornet Watch

A message from the Andover Bee Keepers Association

Now that the weather is warming up and the queen wasps are starting to come out of hibernation it is the time that we might encounter queen Asian Hornets also coming out of hibernation and starting their new colonies. In many respects the Asian Hornet has the same characteristics as wasps – only bigger and against which all our native pollinators currently have no defence. They are present around the South and East coasts where attempts have been made to contain them but already sightings have been made further inland and can only become more frequent.

We are therefore asking as many groups as possible and organisations within the Andover and surrounding area to assist and become our eyes and ears, reporting via the links given on the attached poster and instances where an Asian Hornet might have been seen. The attached poster seeks to increase public awareness but not to cause any alarm or encourage individuals to take matters into their own hands and try to remove the pest. Such a move is extremely unwise as the sting and attack is more aggressive than that of a wasp and defeats the attempt to track and trace back to the nest site so that the appropriate, professional action can be taken.

Your assistance will be appreciated in this quest and should you have any questions or require additional information then please contact us. Note also that several groups have already been in contact and that there are beekeepers, members of the Andover Association living within your locality and we will have a stand at the forthcoming 2nd Sunday market in Andover town centre on the 12th April – please come and say Hi!