Asian hornets have already been spotted in the UK for the third time this year.
The latest sighting occurred on the MS Barfleur ferry while it was docked in Poole, Dorset en route to France.
The East Dorset Beekeepers Association confirmed the insect was the third Asian Hornet seen in the UK this year, with previous sightings reported in Kent and Northumberland.
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The winged predator, which is native to South East Asia, can grow to almost an inch in length and is recognized by its yellow legs, brown or black body, dark abdomen, and a single dark yellow segment on its rear.
Asian hornets can pose a severe threat to honey bees, with a single one capable of killing over 50 of them per day while a swarm can devastate a hive of 30,000 bees.
In fact, more than 20 nests were discovered on the Channel Island Jersey last year, causing widespread panic among locals.
An invasion of the hornets in the UK could potentially have a devastating impact on the native bee population, which would have dire consequences for the environment.
Experts suggest that changes in the UK's warmer weather are sending the queens of Asian hornets into an egg-laying frenzy, sparking concerns that their nests could spread.
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In 2017, a man was killed in Galicia, northern Spain, after being stung over 20 times while pruning an apple tree.
People have also been hospitalised in France after suffering anaphylactic shock as a result of multiple stings from the arthropods.
There were 19 confirmed Asian hornet sightings in England between 2016 and 2020, including 10 nests, all of which were destroyed, but it appears there has been a resurgence once again.
The first confirmed sighting of an Asian hornet on the UK mainland was in Gloucestershire in 2016, with a second sighting confirmed in Devon in 2017.
The presence of these dangerous hornets have led to calls to take more drastic preventative measures to prevent their population from increasing further.
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