Latest news with #SiffreyaPedersen
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Experts sound alarm over insects that kill in huge numbers: 'The rate at which these can move is frightening'
Asian hornets are worrying folks in another area of the United Kingdom as they continue to spread. After arriving in the country in 2016 and being spotted regularly in Kent and East Sussex, the invasive species was seen in Bury recently, pushing area beekeepers and conservationists to raise the alarm, Salford Now reported. A University of Exeter study showed that Europe's top three crop pollinators — the honeybee, buff-tailed bumblebee, and red-tailed bumblebee — were among the hornets' top 50 prey species. Forty-three of the 50 animals "are known to visit flowers," according to the site. "I think it's very important to highlight so that beekeepers don't stick their heads in the sand because the rate at which these can move is frightening," beekeeper Dan Cook said. The outlet reported that each Asian hornet can kill 50 bees per day. The species "has devastated colonies in France and Italy," Salford Now stated. In addition to wrecking ecosystems by removing these vital pollinators, the hornets are responsible for €30 million in honey industry losses. "Insects play vital roles in enabling ecosystems to function, including pollination, decomposition and pest control," lead author Siffreya Pedersen said. "Most insect populations are in decline due to factors such as habitat destruction and chemical pollution, and the expanding area inhabited by Asian hornets poses an extra threat." Cook is using traps on his property and near colonies and has also designed protective screens for his hives. He noted that the hornets repopulate so fast that it requires significant resources to keep them at bay and told Salford Now that tracking a hornet to its nest and destroying that nest is the only effective method of control. Because the pests, also known as yellow-legged hornets, are easy to misidentify, new detection tools such as VespAI are electric harp invented by a French farmer over a decade after the hornets' arrival there has also proved staggeringly helpful. And a retired forensic detective in the Channel Islands has made it his mission to eradicate the invaders. Should we be actively working to kill invasive species? Absolutely It depends on the species I don't know No — leave nature alone Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
The Independent
04-03-2025
- Science
- The Independent
Warning of ‘extra threat' from Asian hornets after UK sightings
Researchers have issued a warning about invasive Asian hornets, which are consuming hundreds of insect species, many of which are important pollinators. The findings, derived from tests on the guts of over 1,500 larvae, highlight concerns about the additional threat the hornet poses to native insects. These insects are already under pressure from farming, land use changes, and chemical pollution. The study also draws attention to the potential impact on agriculture, noting that 43 of the 50 most commonly identified species in the hornet larvae's diet are known to visit flowers. These include Europe's three main crop pollinators. The Asian hornet or yellow-legged hornet, a voracious invasive, is native to South East Asia and arrived in France in a cargo of pottery from China about 20 years ago, spreading rapidly across the continent. Its main prey is honeybees, and it can kill 50 bees a day, devastating colonies in France and Italy. It was first seen in the UK in 2016, and there have been regular sightings since, including 44 confirmed in 2024 – largely in Kent and East Sussex, although a rapid response approach to destroy hornets and nests has stopped its spread in Britain. The researchers from the University of Exeter carried out genetic analysis in a method called 'deep sequencing' to identify prey species in the guts of more than 1,500 hornet larvae from 103 nests in Jersey, France, Spain, and the UK. They identified 1,449 different prey which had been fed by adult hornets to their larvae in the nests, more than half of which (55%) could be identified as a specific species. Prey included a wide range of flies, wasps, bees, butterflies, moths and spiders, with honeybees, common wasps and blow flies most commonly found. While the hornets have a preference for honeybees, which were found in all nests and almost all samples, a wide range of other species were also recorded, showing they are 'opportunistic' and prey on any creatures that are abundant in the areas near their nests. Europe's top three crop pollinators – the honeybee, buff-tailed bumblebee and the red-tailed bumblebee – were all found among the top 50 prey species identified. The study's lead author Siffreya Pedersen said: 'Asian hornets are known to prey on honey bees, but until now the full range of their diet hasn't been tested. 'The diet varied strongly over the seasons and between regions, showing that they are highly flexible predators. And she said: 'Insects play vital roles in enabling ecosystems to function – including pollination, decomposition and pest control. 'Most insect populations are in decline due to factors such as habitat destruction and chemical pollution. 'The expanding area inhabited by Asian hornets poses an extra threat,' she warned.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Asian hornets eating wide range of insects
Invasive Asian hornets are "highly flexible predators" that eat hundreds of different species of insects, including many important pollinators, researchers have warned. Researchers from the University of Exeter carried out analysis to identify prey in the guts of more than 1,500 hornet larvae from 103 nests in Jersey, France, Spain and the UK. They raised concerns over the "extra threat" species poses to native insects already under pressure. The main prey of the Asian hornet is honeybees, with one insect killing up to 50 bees a day, devastating entire colonies. Researchers identified 1,449 different species which had been fed by adult Asian hornets to their larvae in the nests, more than half of which (55%) could be identified as a specific species. They found prey included a range of flies, wasps, bees, butterflies, moths and spiders, with honeybees, common wasps and blowflies most commonly found. Siffreya Pedersen, the study's lead author, said: "Asian hornets were known to prey on honeybees, but until now the full range of their diet had not been tested. "The diet varied strongly over the seasons and between regions, showing that they are highly flexible predators." She said insects played "vital roles in enabling ecosystems to function - including pollination, decomposition and pest control". "Most insect populations are in decline due to factors such as habitat destruction and chemical pollution," she said. "The expanding area inhabited by Asian hornets poses an extra threat." Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@ Warning over Asian hornets after record sightings Asian hornet nests dissected to monitor species Race against time in Asian hornet battle University of Exeter
BBC News
04-03-2025
- Science
- BBC News
Asian hornets eating wide range of insects, Devon researchers warn
Invasive Asian hornets are "highly flexible predators" that eat hundreds of different species of insects, including many important pollinators, researchers have from the University of Exeter carried out analysis to identify prey in the guts of more than 1,500 hornet larvae from 103 nests in Jersey, France, Spain and the raised concerns over the "extra threat" species poses to native insects already under main prey of the Asian hornet is honeybees, with one insect killing up to 50 bees a day, devastating entire colonies. Researchers identified 1,449 different species which had been fed by adult Asian hornets to their larvae in the nests, more than half of which (55%) could be identified as a specific found prey included a range of flies, wasps, bees, butterflies, moths and spiders, with honeybees, common wasps and blowflies most commonly found. Insects under threat Siffreya Pedersen, the study's lead author, said: "Asian hornets were known to prey on honeybees, but until now the full range of their diet had not been tested."The diet varied strongly over the seasons and between regions, showing that they are highly flexible predators."She said insects played "vital roles in enabling ecosystems to function - including pollination, decomposition and pest control"."Most insect populations are in decline due to factors such as habitat destruction and chemical pollution," she said."The expanding area inhabited by Asian hornets poses an extra threat."
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Asian hornets eating hundreds of different insects in ‘threat' to UK wildlife
Asian hornets are eating hundreds of different insect species in a possible threat to UK wildlife. Conservationists have warned that there could be threats to pollinators from a resurgence in the invasive species despite its spread being halted in Britain. New research looking at the guts of more than 1,500 larvae raises new concerns over the 'extra threat' the hornet poses to native insects already under pressure from farming, changes in land use and chemical pollution. The study also highlights the potential impact on agriculture, with 43 of the 50 most commonly identified species in the hornet larvae's diet known to visit flowers – including Europe's three main crop pollinators. The Asian hornet or yellow-legged hornet, is a voracious invasive species native to South East Asia. It arrived in France in a cargo of pottery from China about 20 years ago and spread rapidly across the continent. Its main prey is honeybees, and it can kill 50 bees a day, devastating colonies in France and Italy. It was first seen in the UK in 2016, and there have been regular sightings since, including 44 confirmed in 2024 – largely in Kent and East Sussex, although a rapid response approach to destroy hornets and nests has stopped its spread in Britain. The researchers from the University of Exeter carried out genetic analysis using a method called 'deep sequencing' to identify prey species in the guts of more than 1,500 hornet larvae from 103 nests in Jersey, France, Spain, and the UK. They identified 1,449 different prey which had been fed by adult hornets to their larvae in the nests, more than half of which (55 per cent) could be identified as a specific species. Prey included a wide range of flies, bees, butterflies, moths and spiders, with honeybees, common wasps and blow flies most commonly found. While the hornets prefer honeybees, which were found in all nests and almost all samples, a wide range of other species were also recorded, showing they are 'opportunistic' and prey on any creatures that are abundant in the areas near their nests. Europe's top three crop pollinators – the honeybee, buff-tailed bumblebee and the red-tailed bumblebee – were all found among the top 50 prey species identified. The study's lead author Siffreya Pedersen said: 'Asian hornets are known to prey on honey bees, but until now the full range of their diet hasn't been tested. 'The diet varied strongly over the seasons and between regions, showing that they are highly flexible predators. And she said: 'Insects play vital roles in enabling ecosystems to function – including pollination, decomposition and pest control. 'Most insect populations are in decline due to factors such as habitat destruction and chemical pollution.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
