Canary Islands activate Asian hornet response as nest removed in Gran Canaria

The Cabildo of Tenerife has activated a preventive plan for the Asian hornet (Vespa velutina) after the species was first detected in Gran Canaria. The plan involves a coordinated working line with the Island's Apiculture Board, beekeepers’ associations and technical bodies to inform the public, monitor sightings and create a multidisciplinary response team ready to act quickly if the hornet appears on Tenerife.

The Canary Islands’ RedEXOS network removed the only confirmed nest of the Asian hornet in Gran Canaria, located on the façade of the Instituto de Educación Secundaria Isabel de España in Las Palmas. The operation, carried out with a crane and protective equipment, followed an earlier nest removal in May. Only three sightings of the hornet have been confirmed, all within 250 m of the nest site, and authorities say the situation remains under control while surveillance continues and citizens are urged to report any new observations.