Britain is facing an invasion of swarms of deadly Asian hornets that can kill with just one sting.
Fears are mounting the killer insects could be on its way to the UK after large numbers have been spotted on Jersey in the Channel Islands.
Experts say the recent wet weather could send numbers spiralling as the conditions provide the perfect breeding ground for the species.
If a sting victim is allergic to the venom, they could go into anaphylactic shock and die within minutes.
The latest forecast has sparked fears the UK could set to be invaded by Asian hornets (pictured) as the wet weather provides the perfect breeding conditions for the black and yellow striped insects
Alastair Christie, the Channel Island's Asian hornet co-ordinator, said 13 'active nests' have been destroyed already, compared to just 12 nests in the whole of last year.
And as early as March this year, nests were found in New Alresford and Brockenhurst in Hampshire's New Forest tourist haven, raising fears that picncking families enjoying the summer holidays could be attacked.
They arrived in mainland Europe in 2014 after sneaking into France in a shipment of pottery from China. They have been blamed for the deaths of at least five people.
They've spread rapidly, and the latest figures from the Channel Islands indicate they now pose a major and increasing threat to the UK.
Asian hornets have arrived in large numbers on Jersey, and experts say the Channel Islands are a staging post for insects flying from the Continent to Britain
The explosion in numbers is shown that the first sighting was just three years ago when one was confirmed in Gloucestershire, and a second sighting was confirmed in 2017 in North Devon.
They're also a threat to wildlife with each one capable of killing and eating up to 50 honey bees a day.
They can destroy a hive of 30,000 honey bees within hours, says a special task force for Defra, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
Terrifyingly, their jaws are strong enough to pierce the protective clothing that beekeepers wear.
The hornets are also a threat to wildlife with each one capable of killing and eating up to 50 honey bees a day
More fearsome than our native species, they are native to temperate and tropical Eastern Asia.
A National Bee Unit spokesman said 'If you suspect that you have found an Asian hornet, you can send a suspect sample to the NBU laboratory for examination.
'Use a suitable sturdy container - cardboard rather than plastic - and provide as much detail as possible about the hornet and where you found it.'
But nature experts at conservation group Buglife have begged people not to kill British hornets in mistake for the Asian species.
Asian hornets (pictured) are more fearsome than our native species, and are native to temperate and tropical Eastern Asia
A spokesman for Buglife said 'Our native hornets are
