There’ll certainly be a buzz in Ireland this summer but unfortunately it looks like it could be coming from a flock of deadly hornets.
The pests are on track to invade the UK and according to The Mirror, their sting is so powerful it can send hyper-sensitive victims into anaphylactic shock.
Known as the Asian hornet, the flying fucker killed six people in France last year after they suffered adverse reactions to its venom. It is believed they arrived in France in 2004 after a shipment of pottery.
According to The Department of Agriculture, the Asian Hornet can sting and some people will have an allergic reaction to its sting, however in general its sting is considered to be similar to a bee or wasp sting.
The Asian Hornet is easy to recognise, it is predominantly black with brown abdominal segments that are bordered with a fine yellow band. The fourth abdominal segment is almost entirely yellow/orange. The legs are brown with yellow ends and the head is black with an orange‐yellow face. It is usually 25mm to 30mm in length.
A string of sightings in the UK over the past week have sparked serious concerns that the bug is on the move.
Also known as the Vespa velutina, the hornets hunt a very wide range of other insects, including flies and dragon flies.
The Department requests that anyone who suspects a sighting make contact with them.
