Two more Asian hornet nests removed in Guernsey
- Two Asian hornet nests have been successfully removed in Guernsey.
- The first nest was found in St Peter Port, while the second was located in St Sampson.
- The removals were carried out by the Asian hornet team following public reports.
- Guaranteeing public safety involved road closures and the relocation of animals during the operations.
- The ongoing Asian Hornet Strategy aims to control their populations to protect biodiversity.
On 23rd September 2025, the Asian hornet team discovered and removed a large secondary nest in St Peter Port, following reports of hornet sightings in the St Jacques area and as far as Bailiff’s Cross.
The nest was located high in a sycamore tree in a private garden on La Gibauderie.
A temporary road closure of one and a half hours was necessary to ensure public safety during the removal operation.
The Asian hornet team expressed gratitude to the resident for their cooperation, as well as to Civil Protection for facilitating a safe environment.
On 25th September, a second nest was treated in St Sampson after a local beekeeper reported hornet activity near his beehives.
The team thanked the landowner for their assistance in relocating horses and ponies in the vicinity and for allowing the use of a cherry picker to access the nest in the crown of a large poplar tree.
Francis Russell, Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) Policy & Coordination Officer, stated, “It is always very satisfying to locate and remove these invasive hornet’s nests and we remain committed to preventing them from establishing on our island.”
He further outlined the urgency of this work as the nests enter maturity in late September, signalling a potential release of up to 500 new queens, which could significantly increase the hornet population in the following year if left unchecked.
Russell added, “This is the sixth nest that we have found so far and once again we are indebted to Guernsey’s Civil Protection team for securing the immediate area which allows us to focus on safely destroying and removing these nests.”
These latest nest removals underscore the crucial role of public reporting in managing the invasive species.
The Asian Hornet Strategy aims to limit their population to safeguard public health and the island's biodiversity. The public is encouraged to report any suspected hornet sightings to asianhornet@gov.gg or via phone at 01481 220110 or 07839 197082.
The first sighting of an Asian hornet in Guernsey was documented in March 2017.
The number of nests identified has decreased from 14 in 2023 to three in 2024.
A single large nest can harbour as many as 2,000 hornets, posing risks to public safety and jeopardising native insect populations.
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