Asian Hornet Action Team (AHAT) Meeting Notes 8th March 2018

Attended ; Lesley Jaye(L J) , Ian Tanner ,Robin Villis, Michael Perry, Geoff Hodgson, Mike White(MW) Colin Rees , Ann Serpell, Carol Morrison(CM) Jim Stevens , Marcus Pilling(MP)

Appologies ; Diana Wilkes, Stuart Gibbons

Notes ;Action

  1. Carol Morrison (CM) to be coordinator for the RBG AHAT
  2. Marcus Pilling(MP) to be second point of contact for AHAT
  3. Primary objectives of AHAT. Confirm sightings (photos),Capture sample forAHAT

Sending to NBU and start to obtain flight lines if possible.

  1. Asian Hornet Watch App available on Beebase & phone Apps & can be Alldownloaded onto mobile phones.Gives useful information on Asian members

Hornet(AH) and facility for giving map reference of apiary

  1. Emphasis to be given onsightings within Group Members’ Apiaries

Rather than public reported sightings. Reason for this is that potential

Identification of Hornets will most likely be based on identifying ‘ hawking’

Hornets within the Apiary rather than random sightings

  1. Co-ordinator contact details to be emailed to members and uploaded onto MP/MB

The RBG Website

  1. In the event of a call to the coordinator advising of a sighting 2 or 3 AHAT

Members to be deployed at earliest opportunity. Same dayor next day

Preferable dependent upon weather. AHAT members to be called by theCM/MP

Coordinator.Members chosen for deployment dependent on post codeAHAT And availability.AHAT members will seek to attend over a two day period

should no sightings be found the alert will be closed. Raise again if necessary.

  1. AHAT to advise CM of general availabilityAHAT
  2. All Members are encouraged to advise CM of their Apiary location(s)

This somewhat essential to coordinating role should AH sighting occur

Reason for this not just to aid AHAT but to alert neighbouring apiariesAll

Of AH sighting. Given AH nest 500mt-750mt from Apiary at the confirmed members

Sighting at TetburyWoolacombe it would help to alert Apiaries in the

Vicinity. This could help in establishing flight lines

MP to email members requesting this information & to forward to CMMP

  1. Based on response to item 9 CM to map/list members apiariesCM
  2. Discussion was had on equipment and MW produced an essential guide of

Equipment needed by AHAT.This to be forwarded to AHAT and MP

members generally.

  1. In the event of a confirmed sighting by AHAT the SBI to be advised andAHAT

Cautionary note that confidentiality is essential at this stageAll

Members

  1. Noted that AH Sightings most likely to be in August &September but

Completely possibly sightings could be from March – OctoberAll

  1. Members should consider Spring AH Queen Trapping in bothgardens & Apiarymembers
  2. Lesley Jaye to forward AH identification and this to be sent to membersMP
  3. CM to look at forming a flow chart to encapture action plan with sequence

And essential information. This to be distributed to AHAT and all membersCM/MP