Asian hornet threats drive use of tracking technology

The Asian hornet (Vespa velutina nigrithorax) continues to pose a significant threat to biodiversity and honeybee populations. In 2026, reports of nests have surged in urban and peri-urban areas, with some beekeepers seeing a two- to three-fold increase in identified colonies. This expansion is partly attributed to exceptionally mild winters that allowed more founding queens to survive.

To combat this invasive species, new technological and natural solutions are being utilized. Benjamin Dumoulin, an apiarist and founder of Frelons Pévèle, is using the VespaTracker system. This technology employs a miniature radio transmitter called the VESPA-NANO, which allows users to track a hornet for up to four hours to locate nests that may be kilometers away from the attacked hives.

Natural predators also play a role in regulating hornet populations. The European honey buzzard (Pernis apivorus) is a specialist predator of the Asian hornet. Maintaining diverse ecosystems and green spaces can help foster these natural predators to assist in biological control efforts.