'Nasty' hornet species find alarms experts

The predators have mostly been found in the south east of England

Beekeepers have raised the alarm and told people to be on the lookout after the discovery of a nest of Asian Hornets in the north-west of England.

The non-native invasive insect, which preys on honey bees and threatens biodiversity, was reported by a member of the public who found one of the hornets foraging on figs in the town of Runcorn in Cheshire.

Key features of the highly aggressive hornets, which are about 3cm (1in) and were first sighted in England in 2016, include an entirely black or brown body with distinctive yellow legs.

The British Beekeepers Association (BBKA) said the discovery was of "major concern" as it appeared the pests had spread to a new area, away from the worst-hit sections in Kent and East Sussex, where the vast majority of nests were recorded.

Are hornets dangerous?

Asian hornets pose no greater threat to humans than native hornets, and if you get stung by one, the advice is to immediately wash the area with cold water and soap, then apply ice to stop the venom spreading further

A bigger threat is their impact on native insects, with the hornets feeding on more than a thousand species including honey bees, bumble bees, butterflies and beetles.

"The next few weeks may be our last chance to stop this voracious predator getting established," said Diane Drinkwater, chair of the BBKA.

"If they do gain a foothold here, our chances of eradicating them are virtually non-existent."

Ian Campbell from the BBKA said their stings were "especially nasty" and urged the public to report sightings as there was a "limited window to stop them establishing".

There are fears the species, which has overrun parts of France, could gain a foothold in England

What do they look like?

The yellow-legged hornet can be confused with the native European hornet, which is larger and mostly pale yellow with black stripes.

The more aggressive, smaller predator is mostly black with yellow-tipped legs.

Ms Drinkwater said: "Nests are often found in hedges or near to the ground where the public can accidentally disturb them.

"Hornets become aggressive when defending their nests, putting anyone nearby at risk."

What if I spot one?

Beekeepers have advised people to take a clear photo from a safe distance where possible, and record the location.

They are then encouraging any hornet spotters to report their findings via the free Asian Hornet Watch smartphone app.

A BBKA spokesman said "do not kill it or disturb any nests" and leave the experts from the National Bee Unit will to assess and respond to any discoveries.

The unit include trained specialists and inspectors to track hornets back to their nests which are then destroyed.