'Fight still on' to tackle spread of Asian hornets

5 hours ago

Cameron WeldonChannel Islands

News image — Asian hornets are apex predators which prey on insects including bees, butterflies and beetles

Getty Images An Asian hornet in flight. Three-quarters of its legs are bright yellow and it is black with a thick yellow band on its abdomen. — Asian hornets are apex predators which prey on insects including bees, butterflies and beetles

The "fight is still on" to stop the spread of Asian hornets despite an increase in nests, said Guernsey's government.

Asian hornets are an invasive species and an aggressive predator of many types of insect, especially honey bees.

Annelotte Baas-Jehan, the States of Guernsey's invasive non-native species policy and co-ordination officer, said it had been a "quite a busy season so far" with an increase in queens and nests, but emphasised that the situation was "still manageable".

She urged members of the public to report any possible nest sightings as the government looked to track down and remove them.

Annelotte Baas-Jehan stood outside on a sunny day in front of greenery. She is wearing a blue blazer and looking straight at the camera. — Annelotte Baas-Jehan from the States of Guernsey said the fight was still on to eradicate the hornets

The States said Asian hornets posed a major threat to the island's biodiversity, with 39% of the hornets' diet being honey bees.

Baas-Jehan said the number of nests had increased from eight in 2025, to 22 so far this season and she believed that "there are still a few more nests that we need to find".

She said the hornets could also "defend their nests if the nest is being disturbed", which could be a risk to public health.

Baas-Jehan said: "We have a basically a two-phase approach.

"In the spring we do the spring queening, and during the summer and autumn months we're in the track don't trample phase where we ask members of the public to report their sightings and this gives us information on where the nests are."

States of Guernsey A person in a white protective beekeeper's suit including mesh face covering. They are wearing bright blue gloves and are amongst greenery trying to remove a large Asian hornet nest. — The States of Guernsey said it wanted to stop the insect becoming prevalent on the island

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She said they "rely very much" on reports and sightings from members of the public.

Baas-Jehan said from the 22 nests discovered, two were in a hedge, one was in a wall and the rest were up high in trees.

Asian hornets were first detected in Guernsey in 2017.

"We are in a situation that is still manageable and we can also adapt our strategy on a year-to-year basis", Baas-Jehan added.

She said the government would look at an increase in the amount of spring queening traps and further its tracking efforts to find and locate nests earlier.

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