
Swarms of deadly Asian hornets which have already killed six in France could be on their way to Britain, experts have warned.
Southern parts of England are likely to be among the first hit by the invasive non-native species, who may be able to cross the channel from France, where the hornets first arrived in 2005 and are spreading ?rapidly?.
The hornets could arrive soon, according to the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee (ECA) report on invasive, non-native species.
Vespa Velutina queens are typically up to 30mm long, whereas worker bees grow up to 25mm. They have an entirely dark brown or black velvety body, bordered with a fine yellow band.
The hornets have a toxic sting which can potentially cause anaphylactic shock and kidney failure. The ?highly aggressive? hornets are a predatory species and pose a significant threat to other native bees, wasps and pollinators.
The ECA report discussed the Asian hornet as part of a new blacklist of invasive alien species being drawn up in order to limit environmental and ecological damage across Europe.
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