An urgent search for Asian hornets in the Greater Manchester area has led to the discovery of a nest in Oldham. Local beekeepers collaborated with government bee inspectors to track the non-native invasive insects.
The search was initiated after Asian hornets were first spotted in Oldham three weeks ago, raising concerns about the species potentially spreading further north. Beekeeper Cath Charnock noted that they were not expecting to see the hornets in their area so soon.
Beekeepers used food traps to attract the insects and monitor their flight patterns. Government bee inspectors then joined the effort, employing GPS radio trackers and AI-assisted cameras to pinpoint the nest's location in a tree.
Asian hornets pose a threat to biodiversity, preying on honeybees and other species such as hoverflies, moths, spiders, and wasps. A single nest could consume approximately 15kg of insects in one season.
The public is encouraged to report suspected sightings using the Asian Hornet Watch app.