Experts warn against Asian hornet traps due to biodiversity risks

Biodiversity experts are warning against the widespread use of DIY and commercial traps intended to control the Asian hornet. While gardeners often use these traps in autumn to capture future queens and limit population growth, specialized organizations such as the ANA, FREDON, and France Nature Environnement caution against the practice.

A report from the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle indicates that non-selective traps often capture a vast number of non-target insects. For every Asian hornet caught, dozens of beneficial pollinators—including wild bees, bumblebees, hoverflies, and butterflies—are also killed. Current scientific data does not support the claim that generalized trapping effectively reduces hornet populations on a territorial scale.