Invasive Asian hornets detected in Poland

The first nest of the invasive Asian hornet (Vespa velutina) has been identified and destroyed in Poland. The nest, located in Wielka Wieś near Krakow, was removed by the State Fire Service on the orders of the Regional Directorate for Environmental Protection.

Experts, including Dr. Łukasz Nicewicz from the University of Silesia, warn that the presence of this species poses a significant threat to honeybee populations. Although the initial nest was secured and handed over to researchers for analysis, scientists expect dozens of new nests to emerge in the area this coming spring, as many fertile queens may have already left the nest to seek wintering sites.

The Asian hornet was first recorded in Europe in France in 2004 and has since spread to neighboring countries such as Germany and the Czech Republic. Researchers from the University of Silesia, the Upper Silesian Museum, and the Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences are currently monitoring the situation.