Belgian towns ramp up Asian hornet control measures for 2026

Municipalities across Flemish Belgium are preparing coordinated actions against the invasive Asian hornet (Vespa velutina) in 2026. Bonheiden will continue free nest removal on private and public property after reports submitted via Vespawatch, while the province advises against spring traps due to limited effectiveness and potential harm to native insects. Buggenhout plans to deploy 100 selective traps, building on a 2025 effort that captured 278 queens and eliminated 87 nests, and seeks volunteers to monitor and maintain the devices. Harelbeke and Retie both stress early detection of primary nests from March to June and secondary nests later in summer, offering free eradication through provincial coordination and encouraging residents to report sightings. In Genk, local beekeeper Evelien promotes free, selectively designed hornet traps that lure queens with bait, recommending placement in spring to prevent new colonies that could produce up to 350 queens. Across all towns, the strategy combines public reporting, volunteer participation, and targeted trapping to curb the hornet population and protect honeybees.

The coordinated approach reflects a broader regional effort to mitigate the ecological threat posed by the Asian hornet, which attacks honeybee colonies and can disrupt pollination services vital to agriculture and biodiversity.