Friday 18 June 2021
This summer, the Asian Hornet Team are working together with a local independent brewery to reach a wider audience by using beer mats to distribute information about Asian hornets.
Following the conclusion of a successful "Spring Queening" phase from April - early June, where nine queen Asian hornets were captured on Guernsey, the Team are now moving onto the summer/autumn phase of the Asian Hornet Strategy to control the invasion of this species. This second phase is called "Track Don't Trample" and involves tracking worker hornets to their large nests, whereby the whole nest can be safely removed and eliminated.
The idea for a beer mat initiative originally came from Mr Peter Cunneen, who coordinates Asian hornet control on Sark, following a number of instances where worker Asian hornets were photographed hovering over a pint of beer or found drowned in the bottom of a glass.
Subsequently, the Asian Hornet Team approached local breweries with the idea, resulting in Little Big Brew Co. expressing interest in helping with the initiative and their enthusiasm to support Guernsey's natural environment in any way possible. A new range of beer mats have been created in collaboration, the reverse side featuring a life-sized graphic of an Asian hornet and contact details for reporting a sighting.
Francis Russell, Project Coordinator for the Asian Hornet Strategy said:
"We are always looking for new ways to raise awareness of the Asian hornet invasion and improve our ability to control them. Last year we trialled the sugary bait stations, which proved successful with the help of our dedicated volunteers. Now this beer mat initiative provides a really exciting opportunity to work in partnership with a local business to protect Guernsey's pollinating insects and public health."
Simon de la Rue, Development Director of Little Big Brew Co. said:
"We love bees, pollinators and our entire local environment so when Francis and the Asian Hornet Team approached us with this initiative, we thought all our hop harvests had come early. Collaborating with the Team and suppliers we were able to come up with a great design at a reduced price showcasing the effectiveness of public-private partnerships. Now Nigel, Alan and Betty (names of our beers) are also on the lookout for Asian hornets for the rest of the summer and we hope the public get behind the campaign."
The Asian Hornet Team hope that the new the beer mats will help in delivering their important message to anyone coming across a hornet during the Track Don't Trample phase - if you spot a hornet, don't kill it, observe it and report it.
If you think you have found an Asian hornet, email your sighting details and a photo (if possible) to asianhornet@gov.gg or call 07839 197082. Useful identification guides and more information about Asian hornets and the Strategy can be found at https://gov.gg/asianhornet. The same process should be followed if you think you have discovered a nest.
