The Asian hornet Risks and Responses Gay Marris National Bee Unit
National Bee Unit Role - protects the honey bee from serious pests and diseases and environmental damage. Operates on behalf of Defra and Welsh Government's Bee Health Programme for beekeepers in England and Wales. Provides an integrated programme of apiary inspections, laboratory diagnosis, research and development and extensive training and advice. Number of registered beekeepers 30,000 Number of registered colonies (hives) 130,000
The Asian hornet Vespa velutina nigrithorax Length 2.5 3.0 cm Dark, velvety thorax Black abdomen Yellow legs 4 th abdominal segment yellow Copyright Jean Haxaire
Native distribution
European distribution
European distribution Belgium - 2011 Spain - 2010
Biology key points Predate honey bees; European honey bees have poor defences against the Asian hornet; Cause significant colony damage direct (predation) and indirect (stress, spread of disease);
Biology key points Copyright Jean Haxaire Adult Asian hornets don t just eat honey bees lots of other (beneficial) insects besides Also feed on fruits and flowers, especially in the autumn Nest in urban places = contact with people
Biology key points Make huge nests, often in inaccessible places; One nest produces many (1,000s) of mated queens; Mated queens hibernate in discrete hideaways hard to find;
Biology key points One mated queen can found an entire colony! Strong fliers; Rapid population spread: < 5 years
Concern about rate of spread and damage caused
In 2010 NBU commissioned by NNSS to produce a formal Risk Assessment How likely is the Asian hornet to arrive in GB? How likely is the Asian hornet to establish in GB? How likely is the Asian hornet to spread in GB? What would the impact of the Asian hornet be in GB?
1. Likelihood of arrival?
Potential entry pathways 1. Natural spread across Channel 2. Hibernating queens in wood/wood products 3. Hibernating queens in man-made goods 4. Hibernating queens in soil imports 5. With imported fruit and flowers 6. Hitchhiking on freight/transport vehicles 7. Movement of honey bees for purposes of trade
Potential entry pathways 1. Natural spread across Channel 2. Hibernating queens in wood/wood products
Potential entry pathways 3. Hibernating queens in man-made goods 4. Hibernating queens in soil imports
Potential entry pathways 5. With imported fruit and flowers
The Asian hornet is highly likely to arrive in GB
Likelihood of establishment?
Climate? Food? Nest sites? Enemies? Hibernation sites? Competitors? Time of year at entry?
The Asian hornet is highly likely to establish in GB
Likelihood of spread?
Likelihood of Spread 1. Climatic and biotic requirements met 2. Adult hornets highly mobile 3. Single nest produces many mated queens 4. Spread rapidly through France 5. Containment efforts in France unsuccessful 6. Entered Spain & Belgium
The Asian hornet is highly likely to spread GB
What will be the impact?
Likely Impacts Economic Honey bees are the primary managed pollinator in the UK
Likely Impacts Social Hornets sting
Likely Impacts Environmental Will impact on pollinators in natural landscapes
The Asian hornet is likely to have economic, social and environmental impacts severity unknown
The way forward - 2012 A Response Strategy for dealing with the Asian hornet Developed by the Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera, NBU), in consultation with Defra (Protected and Non Native Species, Bee Health Food and Farming Group) and its Non Native Species Secretariat (NNSS) An example of multi departmental approach to a non native insect threat Finalised April 2012
Response Strategy Objectives 1. Rapid detection 2. Rapid nest destruction to deal with localised outbreaks 3. Development of longer term management plans;
Rapid detection Key players The NNSS & NNSIP (provision of ID materials; 1 r reporting of sightings; 1 r contact for stakeholder groups) The NBU (provision and distribution of ID materials; development of monitoring advice; training & education in beekeeping community; awareness-raising in beekeeping press) Beekeepers (use of monitoring traps for Asian hornets) Sentinel Apiary holders General community Other stakeholders e.g. BBKA, pest control associations (awareness raising in press)
Sentinel Apiaries 120 currently in the programme monitor for exotic honey bee pests Spread across England & Wales Sentinel Apiary Located in and around entry risk points Invited to include Asian hornets surveillance regime Provided with traps & bait by NBU
Beekeepers in the Community 30,000 registered beekeepers in E&W Levels of interest in Asian hornet very high Keen to be involved Provided with advice on trapping through NBU and Beekeeping associations
Beekeepers in the Community
Stakeholder Contacts Government Forestry Commission PHSI NE, CCW, SNH Health Protection Authority National Parks Authorities Freight Transport Authority British Airports Authority Environment Agency, SEPA Networks and fora BBKA Local Action Groups Royal Association of Wildlife Trusts Local Record Centres LBAP officers Wildlife and Countryside Link Wales Environment Link Scotland Environment Link Biological Record Centre (at CEH) IEEM Pest control CIEH (Chartered Institute for Env. Health) BPCA (British Pest Control Association) Pest controllers Relevant schemes and societies Royal Entomological Society Relevant Universities NGOs Buglife RSPB Butterfly Conservation Landowners Defence Estates National Trust National Trust (Scotland)
Future Challenges Rapid nest destruction
Rapid nest destruction Asian hornets will nest up to 30 metres off the ground
Rapid nest destruction Still not high enough?
Rapid nest destruction L ADAAQ has developed a mast that allows access to hornet nests at great heights (Photos. J. Blot ADAAQ)
Future Challenges Managing expectations
Development of longer term management plans
Further information the NNSS You can download ID sheets from here You can get the completed Risk Assessment for V. velutina here
Further information the NBU Visit BeeBase for guidance notes on: Identification Trapping General biology Reporting suspect sightings
Acknowledgements UK Mike Brown National Bee Unit (Fera) Ivor Flatman NBU (Fera) Niall Moore Non Native Species Secretariat Andrew Cuthbertson Applied Entomology (Fera) Sharon Reid Plant Pest & Disease Programme (Fera) Olaf Booy Non Native Species Secretariat Stuart Roberts Chairman of BWARS UK Kim Chadwick Bee Health Policy Jane Goffe PHSI Inspectorate London Heathrow Matthew Davies Killgerm ScottMeadows Entomology & Plant Health, States of Jersey Department of Environment Beekeepers and general public who are already reporting sightings Overseas Jean Haxaire Entomologist France Claire Villemant Muséum National d'histoire Naturelle France Quentin Rome Muséum National d'histoire Naturelle France Marc Kenis CABI Switzerland Jaques Blot ADAAQ France
Gay Marris Science Coordinator - National Bee Unit gay.marris@fera.gsi.gov.uk