Achi news desk-
Now the public is being warned that the species could be in further danger due to a predatory non-native hornet.
The Asian yellow-legged hornets (Vespa velutina nigrithorax) are known to be aggressive predators of multiple species, including honey bees and other pollinators.
The predator is native to Northern India, China, the Indo-Chinese peninsula and the Indonesian archipelago.
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The Scottish Minister for Agriculture, Jim Fairlie, has said that they are working on a plan to ‘eliminate’ the yellow-legged Asian Hornet before it can settle in the UK.
He said: “I am delighted to see the progress made by the Bee Health Improvement Partnership to help deliver our second Scottish Government 10 year Honey Bee Health Strategy.
“By developing a Contingency Plan to tackle any Asian hornet attack in Scotland, we are well prepared to tackle the insect and eradicate it before it has a chance to establish itself.
“We cannot underestimate the devastating impact this non-native predator is having on honey bees and other insects, including important pollinators, and I encourage people to be aware of what to look for and give know of any possible cases of sightings.”
The plan to deal with the wasp is included in the first annual report of the Bee Health Improvement Partnership (BHIP).
There are also other threats to the Scottish Honey Bee which have been highlighted in the report. A parasite called the Varroa mite is the biggest threat to honey bee colonies in Scotland, he said.
We know that the Varroa mite feeds on bee larvae and pupae, leading to disfigurement of bee wings and bodies when they develop and emerge as adults. They also feed on fully grown bees.
However, the report states that positive steps have been taken towards neutralizing the menace of the parasite.
A map showing the spread of the parasite, and highlighting areas where the mite has not been reported, such as the islands of Colonsay and Oronsay, which are nature reserves for Apis mellifera mellifera (Amm, Black Bee), has been to share with beekeepers across the country to highlight where special care is needed to prevent the parasite from spreading to these areas.
Although the Scottish Government is keen to keep the public on the lookout for the Asian Hornet, there has been no confirmation of seeing the predator in the north of England so far.
The furthest north he was seen was in Yorkshire.
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How do I report a sighting?
The free Asian Hornet Watch App has been launched and is free to download on iPhones and Androids.
As part of the App, members of the public can report any concerns to the Great British Alien Species Secretariat (NNSS), which is responsible for helping to co-ordinate the approach to invasive alien species in Great Britain of seeing the cornets.
The Asian Hornet Contingency Plan will ensure that any attack is dealt with quickly by the Scottish Government’s Honey Bee Inspectors, who would confirm sightings and then take steps to find, destroy and remove nests.
You can see the full Asian Hornet Contingency Plan here and the Scottish Government Bee Health improvement report here.
