Gargantuan Killer Asian Hornets Decimate Beekeeper's Livelihood as They Ravage His Beehives

Huge killer Asian hornets have nearly wiped out a beekeeper’s business after tearing through his hives.

The giant insects that can devour more than 60 bees a day, have killed thousands of bees at Peter Down's apiary in Kent.

Out of 20 hives, only four or five remain and those bees are so stressed that they cannot produce any honey and will likely die off in the winter.

It comes as 42 nests have been found in the UK - almost all in Kent - this season, dwarfing figures for previous years.

Peter is calling on the government to do more to tackle the outbreak, which experts warn could ultimately threaten the nation’s food supply.

The 40-year-old, from New Romney, said he has watched in horror as his bees are “depleting” before his eyes - leaving him unable to sell any honey.

He said: “We were pushing more than 20 hives coming into the season, but have lost between 14 and 16. I feel like I’ve lost everything.

“I have noticed a lot more hawking, hovering at the entrance to hives, happening and the Asian hornets are now picking on one of my stronger hives, so that may deplete in the next few days.”

Peter and his fellow beekeeper at the site, Simon Spratley, have set up traps at the apiary and along the cliff top.

Last Wednesday, six yellow-legged Asian hornets were caught across three traps.

But Peter says there should not have been any, as the National Bee Unit (NBU) had destroyed three nests just days earlier.

He said: “We should not be seeing any signs of Asian hornets five days later. We clearly have Asian hornets and have seen a few mating flights.

“On an average trap, we had been finding 12 to 14 hornets, which is high numbers given we check them every 24 to 48 hours.”

Peter usually makes up to 600 jars of honey by this time of year but the invasion has killed off production.

He added: “Our bees are so stressed that they are not producing the honey they need to.

“They are also not producing the stores they need to survive the winter let alone give us any to sell.”

Ten people in Jersey have needed urgent medical treatment this summer after being stung by Asian hornets.

Peter carries an Epipen because he can have a bad allergic reaction to wasp stings.

But the father-of-five loves beekeeping because it helps him “massively” with his mental health - making the attacks by the hornets even more upsetting.

He continued: “To have 20-odd hives go down to what I have now, and physically watching Asian hornets coming in and hawking my bees, is not what I want to see."

Peter is one of many beekeepers who are members of Asian Hornet Action Teams (AHATs).

He is urging the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and NBU to work together more with AHATs to target hornet nests quicker.

He said: “I think they still do not want to admit that we have an invasion of them.

“Last year we had two nests destroyed. This year we have 42 and counting across 36 locations. Our numbers are showing we are getting a massive influx.”