UoG study will assess health of native wasps amid worrying increase in predatory Asian hornets

University of Gloucestershire wildlife expert Professor Adam Hart is inviting citizen scientists to join him on the frontline of a study monitoring the abundance, diversity and distribution of wasps in the UK, amid fears over the impact of invasive Asian hornets on their survival.

While Asian hornets (pictured below) pose no greater threat to human health than native hornets and are also smaller, a record number of the predatory insects across Europe is causing concern because of the damaging effect they can have on biodiversity and native species.

With a dark body, wide orange stripe on the fourth abdomen section and yellow leg ends, their diet includes bees and wasps, which play a crucial role as pollinators.

This year, there have been 20 confirmed sightings of the Asian hornet in the UK, with a total of 121 confirmed sightings since 2016, and the Government’s Chief Plant Officer has urged increased vigilance to their presence.

Citizen scientists are being invited to contribute to long-term research by Professor Hart and Professor Seirian Sumner from UCL by recording sightings of wasps for the Big Wasp Survey (3-11 August and 31 August to 8 September), that will help inform research over the possible impact of Asian hornets.

Last year’s survey enabled them to conduct the first large-scale genetic analysis of the Common Wasp thanks to data and samples provided by thousands of citizen scientists from across the UK.

Adam Hart, Professor of Science Communication at the University, said: “With invasive Asian hornets spreading across Europe and on the rise in the UK, many people are very concerned about their impact on our native pollinators such as bees and wasps.

“Bees and wasps play an important role as pollinators – transferring pollen as they visit flowers to drink nectar – while wasps also help to control the numbers of potential pests, such as greenfly and many caterpillars, to protect crops and our gardens.

“The Big Wasp Survey is an opportunity for citizen scientists to contribute to UK-wide research around wasps through recording sightings while at the same time being on the frontline of monitoring the spread of Asian hornets.

“It’s really simple to get involved in the Big Wasp Survey, but the findings could make an important contribution to what we know already about wasps, and potentially find out more about the presence of invasive Asian hornets.

“If our citizen scientists catch or see an Asian hornet, they will support the work being done to ensure they don’t establish themselves in the UK by reporting it to the Non-Native Species Secretariat.”

Images: Professor Adam Hart, Professor of Science Communication at the University; an Asian hornet (Crown copyright)