Asian hornet!!!

[Nicos]

I was just peeling and stewing down windfalls and a hornet flew around watching me.
I'm not really bothered by them-large as they are -the local wasps are more aggressive.
however this one was very dark with an orange band and light coloured legs.
A quick ID on here and it's deffo an Asian hornet
When I described it to my OH he said there are loads of them on the fallen perry pears at the bottom of the field!...he thought they were just the normal European ones.

looks like we need to inform the Authorities about this!

I found a link to show exactly what it looks like....
ASIAN HORNET: GUERNSEY BEEKEEPERS' ASSOCIATION

[Nicos]

And yes...the pears are all over my organic brassica patch....*wonders if the authorities are going to spray something very nasty all over my crops and soil????

[mothhawk]

And yes...the pears are all over my organic brassica patch....*wonders if the authorities are going to spray something very nasty all over my crops and soil????

They won't do that, Nicos. They need to track them back to the nest to try and destroy as many new queens as possible before they spread out looking for places to hibernate. Probably a bit late now though, most will already have gone, since the worker hornets you are seeing are obviously seeking sugars not proteins.

[mothhawk]

They can be quite aggressive, so stay well away from them.

https://www.thelocal.fr/20180919/asi...ctim-in-france

[Nicos]

Looks like we need to inform our Marie (Mayor) who only works part time!

We have a wood nearby so might go and have a gentle wander to see if we can locate a nest. But yes...we'll go very carefully.
OH noticed the farmer in the back field shaking the perry pear trees and collecting the pears yesterday so went to warn him.
There were literally hundreds of drunken Hornets....both Asian and European...drunk!....so it looks like we have a big problem

Ta for the link MH