A record level of deadly Asian hornets have been found on one of the Channel Islands.
The creatures have arrived in large numbers in Jersey this year and are now likely to appear in the UK.
A single sting from the black and yellow striped insects can result in death - if the victim is allergic to their venom.
Around 13 hornet nests containing queens have already been destroyed in Jersey this year, compared to 12 in 2018, according to a report.
Experts say that current wet conditions in the country are set to provide a perfect breeding ground for the bugs.
The Jersey Evening Post reports that 80 Asian hornet queens have been found on the island so far this year. They had emerged in France in 2004 and eventually reached the Channel Islands and UK in 2016.
Insect expert Alastair Christie says: "A lot of people are on high alert, which means the amount of reports is much higher than last year.
"So far we have had a total of 203 reported sightings of Asian hornets and of those, just 80 turned out to be a hornet – the rest were just wasps, bees and other pollinating insects.
"But while the increased amount of sightings is partly down to people being more aware, it is also undoubtedly due to the fact that there are more of them on the island this year."
The insects are originally from Asia, however they emerged in France in 2004 and eventually reached the Channel Islands and UK in 2016.
