Latham said several search teams eventually converged on the same spot before inspectors used binoculars to identify the nest in a tree.
A single nest could consume about 15kg (two stone) of insects in one season, affecting not only honeybees but also hoverflies, moths, spiders, wasps and other species, she said.
Charnock urged the public to report suspected sightings using the Asian Hornet Watch app, calling on people to “see it, snap it and app it”.
Asian hornets pose no greater threat to humans than native hornets, and if you get stung by one, the advice is to immediately wash the area with cold water and soap, then apply ice to stop the venom spreading further.
But the main prey of the Asian hornet is honeybees, with one insect killing up to 50 bees a day, devastating entire colonies.