Britain is successfully fighting off the Asian hornet, report reveals - despite the invasive species still wreaking havoc in France and Italy The UK has so far successfully fought off invasion by the Asian hornet - thanks to vigilant members of the public.
Pictured, an Asian Hornet nest on a roadside cafe near Canterbury in May this year] This work was the first to consider the potential extent of invasion by this species that would have occurred in the UK, Germany and the Netherlands if rapid eradication had not taken place.
A new study has shown that although the UK has suitable climate and habitat for the yellow-legged hornet, also known as the Asian hornet, effective action has prevented this voracious predator of pollinators from establishing here.
The UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) has led a study to assess the environmental suitability of European countries for establishment and spread of the yellow-legged hornet (Vespa velutina).
The EU-funded study, published in the Journal of Applied Ecology, found that over 1,500km2 in the UK would have been colonised by 2020 without action to tackle the invasive non-native species.
