Asian Hornet nest discovered near Munich

The first nest of the invasive Asian hornet (Vespa velutina) has been discovered in a building near the Theresienwiese in Munich, Upper Bavaria. The discovery follows sightings of individual hornets in the area over the past year.

To locate the nest, approximately 20 experts and volunteer beekeepers used bait traps and telemetry transmitters. After capturing two hornets and equipping them with tiny tracking devices, specialists successfully traced their flight path back to the nest located in a building's roof. The building management has been notified to organize a professional removal.

The timing of the removal is critical, as young queens develop in nests during the autumn. These queens mate and overwinter to establish new colonies in the spring. A fully developed nest can produce around 350 young queens.

Classified as an invasive species by the EU in 2018, the Asian hornet poses a threat to local ecosystems by preying on honeybees, wild bees, wasps, flies, and spiders. Its spread in Europe is believed to be aided by climate change.