Asian Hornet warning for Northern France

GTP
GTP Club Member Posts: 537
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For those of us currently travelling/returning via Northern France...this warning in todays Telegraph....that these little devils could reach the UK by hitching a lift in our Caravans/Motorhomes.....be careful out there folks !!

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/08/28/first-asian-hornet-sting-british-isles-amid-fearsinsect-could/

Comments

  • commeyras
    commeyras Club Member Posts: 1,853 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2018 #2

    OK yes but don't panic. and how are we expected to stop the blighters hitching a lift in our outfits? The article says only those people who are allergic could have problems.  Six years living in S of France and OH was stung once by a Hornet; not very pleasant but she suffered no harmful effects.  

  • LeTouriste
    LeTouriste Forum Participant Posts: 348
    edited August 2018 #3

    In May 2017, at a campsite near Pontorson, my wife went to the water tap (longish grass there) and was either stung or bitten by unknown insect.  Her leg became inflamed and a large burn-like swelling the size of a bird's egg appeared.  We went to the local pharmacy who prescribed medication, with the advice to go to hospital if it got any worse.  The medication eventually caused the swelling to rupture, but a few hours later another swelling took its place, accompanied by a smaller one next to it.

    We continued the treatment and the swelling changed to several very small blisters in the area around the original wound.  Over a year later, she still has a darkish scar about the size of a 10p coin.  Perhaps it was an insect she happened to be allergic to, but we'll never know what it was, or even if it is common in the UK.

  • Kontikiboy
    Kontikiboy Forum Participant Posts: 304
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    edited September 2018 #4

    Hi LT,

    Going by the description of the bite your wife suffered it sounds to me more like a snake bite, perhaps an adder.

    BillC

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
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    edited September 2018 #5

    won't the border patrols pick them up during the searches?wink

  • Cartledge
    Cartledge Forum Participant Posts: 267
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    edited September 2018 #6

    Won't they drift away from hitching a ride on the outside of your vehicle if they find no food? Unlike the people outside Calais and Caen who have different motives? 

  • Kennine
    Kennine Forum Participant Posts: 3,472
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2018 #7

    I've seen those symptoms on a fellow caravanner when we were on the Castleton site. The bite or bites were from a Horse Fly. (Nasty little creatures).------------ In Scotland we call them a Clegg.  

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,957 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2018 #8

    Horrible  things cleggs, OH has a very serious reaction to them, almost hospitalised once as he was bitten on the neck, he was so swollen he had trouble swallowing.

  • Ickabod
    Ickabod Forum Participant Posts: 1
    edited September 2018 #9

    Too late we had Asian hornets in our back garden in Lincolnshire.  Pest control got rid of them pretty quick.  I don't think you can stop these insects from crossing the channel.