Hornet Swarm Kills Five People in France, Seen Heading Towards Southeast UK

Killer hornets left five people dead in France and has been spotted to be heading towards the mainland of Southeast UK, based on reports on Tuesday, June 14.

The UK is currently anticipating a heatwave this week, yet it is also anticipating the arrival of the unwanted winged visitors.

The fatalities in France were caused by anaphylactic shock caused by the lethal stings of Asian giant hornets.

Due to reported breeding grounds in the Channel Islands, beekeepers warned of a possible hornet invasion across the UK in an unspecified timeline.

Also called Asian hornets, the notorious bee species are significantly larger than the British hornets. Native to Asia, especially in East Asia and Russia's Far East region.

Asian giant hornets are not only known for killing other rival hornet hives but also humans.

In the United States, the insect swarm became widely known as the so-called "murder hornets," which first appeared in the Pacific Northwest in late 2020.

Their presence sparked fears in the North American country. Now, the killer wasps have made their way into the heart of Europe.

Hornet Invasion

Prior to the arrival of the hornet swarm, local authorities claimed that some travelers might be unaware they also bought the killer hornets into Britain through their vehicles or luggage.

This may have led to the release of queen hornets capable of hibernating and creating new nests, as cited by Essex Live.

The first confirmed hornet sighting this year was reported in Suffolk, England, on April 29 when beekeepers captured one in the town of Felixstowe.

This has led to beekeeping associations in Devon to distribute warning posters of the looming invaders, according to the local UK media outlet.

The authorities also asked the public to check their boats and vehicles for suspected carriage of the large wasps.

During the UK spring season, 20 hornet nests have been reportedly found in Jersey and a dozen more in Guernsey in the Channel Islands between Southeast UK and Northwest France.

Murder Hornets

An Asian Giant Hornet (Vespa mandarinia) belongs to the Family Vespidae which consists of almost 5,000 species.

This family of wasps are known for their social was colony, which includes their queen or leader and its workers.

The National Invasive Species Information Center cited a report that the murder hornets were first introduced in Washington State back in 2019.

Since then, the US government, spearheaded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), has made contributions to the research and eradication efforts of the wasps.

The main threat posed by killer hornets is its impact in the ecosystem, since plant pollinators such as honeybees are known as one of their targets.

Asian giant hornets have been responsible for killing around 50 people in Japan each year, according to The New York Times.

The reported casualties in France only adds to the insect's infamous track record.

In the coming days, an increased presence of the hornets are possible in Southeast UK as high temperatures could attract and invite the invaders into its shores.