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[SITUATION] · [ACTIVE] · [INTERNATIONAL]

39 clusters · 109 sources · 126 days · First seen 4 months ago · Last updated 1 day ago

Asian hornet expansion and safety risks across Europe

Overview

The spread of the invasive Asian hornet (Vespa velutina) continues to expand across Europe, with significant activity in Germany, Austria, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. In Germany, the species remains common in several states, including Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Saarland. In Baden-Württemberg, sightings of primary nests more than doubled compared to the previous year, with over 2,000 reported between spring and August 2026.

In France, where estimates suggest between 200,000 and 350,000 nests exist, the species poses a seasonal risk to gardeners. During September and October, nests often reach peak size and are frequently hidden in dense hedges, shrubs, or climbing ivy. Fruit trees, including fig, plum, apple, and pear trees, as well as vines, are noted as particularly attractive to the insects due to sugary sap and fruit.

Safety concerns have escalated in the Benelux region. In the Netherlands, a large nest near a daycare center and a busy bicycle path has caused anxiety among residents and business owners. In Belgium, the rise of the species has led to severe medical emergencies, including multiple hospitalizations in Kluisbergen and a fatal attack on a 60-year-old man in Ninove.

In Austria, authorities in Kössen, Tyrol, have implemented a new thermal removal method called ‘velutina Steam EX’. This technique uses a pipe system to deliver hot steam to nests high in tree canopies without pesticides, subsequently vacuuming returning workers through the system. This marks the first use of such a method in the country to protect local biodiversity, specifically honeybees and wild bees, from colonies that can contain up to 2,000 insects.

Entities

Germany · NABU · Baden-Württemberg · Naturschutzbund Deutschland (NABU) · Vespa velutina

Timeline

1 day ago

[CULTURE] 2 sources
Asian hornet invasion spreads across France
The Asian hornet invasion continues to spread across France, threatening honeybee populations and requiring specialized management as nest counts exceed 35,000.
5 days ago

[CULTURE] 2 sources
Tyrol uses new thermal method to remove Asian hornet nest
Tyrol authorities used a new pesticide-free thermal steam method to remove an Asian hornet nest in Kössen, addressing a growing threat to local bee populations.
9 days ago

[CULTURE] 2 sources
Asian hornets pose seasonal risks to French gardens
Asian hornet populations in France are estimated to reach up to 350,000 nests in 2026, with colonies peaking in autumn and hiding in hedges and fruit trees, posing risks during seasonal garden maintenance.
10 days ago

[INTERNATIONAL] 4 sources
Asian hornet activity sparks safety concerns in Netherlands and Belgium
Rising concerns over Asian hornet activity in the Netherlands and Belgium follow fatal attacks and reports of large nests near residential areas and daycare centers.
14 days ago

[INTERNATIONAL] 6 sources
Asian hornet expansion poses threat to German ecosystems and beekeeping
The invasive Asian hornet is spreading rapidly across Germany, threatening bee populations and ecosystems. Authorities urge citizens to report sightings and warn against DIY nest removal or fraudulent pest-fix-
20 days ago

[CULTURE] 3 sources
Asian hornet invasion becomes a national issue in France
The Asian hornet has become a major issue in France, with an estimated 200,000 to 350,000 nests present in 2026, threatening bee populations and requiring organized national and local reporting efforts.
20 days ago

[INTERNATIONAL] 10 sources
Asian hornet expansion detected in Tirol and Germany
The invasive Asian hornet is spreading through Austria and Germany, threatening honeybees and local biodiversity. Experts in Tirol and Saxony are working to locate and remove nests to prevent further expansion.
23 days ago

[CULTURE] 5 sources
Asian hornets expand presence in Baden-Württemberg
Invasive Asian hornets are spreading rapidly across Baden-Württemberg, Germany, threatening honeybee populations and local ecosystems. Authorities urge citizens to report sightings to help track their expansion
27 days ago

[INTERNATIONAL] 4 sources
Invasive species spread across Germany as experts monitor threats
Invasive species like the Asian hornet and disease-carrying mosquitoes are spreading in Germany, prompting experts to use public assistance and monitoring traps to protect ecosystems and public health.
about 1 month ago

[CULTURE] 2 sources
Asian hornets threaten German honey production
Invasive Asian hornets are spreading across Germany, threatening honeybee colonies. Authorities and environmental groups are calling for increased monitoring and the use of drones to combat the species.
about 1 month ago

[INTERNATIONAL] 9 sources
Invasive insects spread rapidly across Germany
Invasive species like the Asian hornet are spreading rapidly across Germany, prompting increased government subsidies for nest removal, while praying mantis populations also surge due to heat.
about 1 month ago

[INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
Asian Hornet Invasion Threatens Bees Across Germany and Switzerland
Asian hornets are expanding in western Germany and Switzerland's St. Gallen, threatening honeybees and prompting citizen‑reporting and professional nest removal.
about 1 month ago

[HEALTH] 3 sources
Netherlands tackles Asian hornet and wasp problems with new detection and prevention methods
Dutch residents use simple garden practices to deter wasps while volunteers employ tiny transmitters to pinpoint Asian hornet nests, addressing a sharp rise in infestations.
about 1 month ago

[INTERNATIONAL] 3 sources
Asian hornet sightings rise in Germany and Austria
Asian hornet (Vespa velutina) is spreading in Germany and Austria, prompting warnings for biodiversity, agriculture and beekeepers, with a new primary nest found in Lustenau, Vorarlberg.
about 2 months ago

[HEALTH] 3 sources
Asian hornet control efforts in Dutch towns Stein and Weert
Dutch municipalities Stein and Weert, together with local beekeeping groups, deployed traps and removed Asian hornet nests, capturing over 1,000 queens in Stein and clearing a summer nest in Weert.
about 2 months ago

[HEALTH] 3 sources
Invasive ant species detected in Germany spur control and health warnings
Germany reports two invasive ant species—Tapinoma magnum in Haßfurt and Brachyponera chinensis in Baden‑Württemberg—prompting eradication measures and warnings about painful, potentially dangerous stings.
about 2 months ago

[HEALTH] 2 sources
Central Germany Insect Populations Show Early Recovery Amid Asian Hornet Threat
In central Germany insect activity rises, hinting at recovery, while the invasive Asian hornet spreads, prompting safety warnings and ecological concerns.
about 2 months ago

[INTERNATIONAL] 3 sources
Asian Hornet (Vespa velutina) Spreads Across Germany
The Asian hornet (Vespa velutina), an invasive species from South Asia, has expanded across western Germany and into Berlin and Hamburg in 2023‑24, threatening honeybee colonies despite being no greater a risk
about 2 months ago

[INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
Asian hornet eradication efforts expand in Netherlands and Belgium
Volunteer programs in the Netherlands and Belgium are intensifying Asian hornet eradication, using tracking traps in Moerdijk and powder‑treated lances in Westerlo as nest numbers double.
about 2 months ago

[INTERNATIONAL] 3 sources
Asian hornet sightings rise in Switzerland and Germany
Bern urges citizens to report Asian hornet nests and avoid handling them, while Brandenburg records its first hornet nest, prompting expert removal, highlighting the species' spread across Europe.
about 2 months ago

[INTERNATIONAL] 3 sources
Asian Hornet Nest Removal in Netherlands and Belgium
Dutch and Belgian teams removed Asian hornet nests, using funded vacuum methods in the Netherlands and a free citizen‑reporting program in East Flanders to curb the invasive threat to bees.
about 2 months ago

[INTERNATIONAL] 11 sources
Invasive Large Gland Ant Spreads Across Germany, Threatening Biodiversity and Infrastructure
Tapinoma magnum, an invasive ant, is spreading in Germany, forming million‑member supercolonies that damage infrastructure, displace native species, and attract aphids. Authorities urge reporting and steam or d
2 months ago

[HEALTH] 2 sources
ADAC warns of heavy fines for self‑removal of wasp nests in Germany
ADAC says German households must use professionals to remove wasp/hornet nests; DIY removal can incur fines over €50,000 and poses allergy risks.
2 months ago

[HEALTH] 2 sources
South Carolina fights invasive yellow‑legged hornets threatening bees and honey production
Asian yellow‑legged hornets, first spotted near Savannah in 2023, have spurred a Clemson‑led removal campaign in South Carolina that destroyed hundreds of nests and killed over 400 queens, protecting bees and h
2 months ago

[HEALTH] 2 sources
Spain ramps up Asian hornet removal as attacks surge in Vitoria and O Salnés
Asian hornet attacks hit Vitoria while Galicia’s O Salnés removes 200 nests in a week, highlighting an intensified control effort across Spain.
2 months ago

[HEALTH] 2 sources
Spanish beekeepers warn of severe Asian hornet pressure on hives and orchards in Galicia
Galicia beekeepers say 13‑20 Asian hornets per hive are blocking bees, endangering colonies and fruit trees, and advise caution when picking fruit.
2 months ago

[HEALTH] 4 sources
Germany warns of invasive ant and Asian hornet damaging homes and ecosystems
Germany warns that invasive large glandular ants are damaging buildings and infrastructure, while Asian hornets threaten native insects and crops; authorities urge reporting nests, not self‑removal.
2 months ago

[BUSINESS] 2 sources
Georgia battles rising invasive insect threats to farms and pollinators
Georgia faces invasive spotted lanternflies and yellow‑legged hornets threatening crops and pollinators; officials urge public reporting and eradication efforts.
3 months ago

[INTERNATIONAL] 6 sources
Asian hornet sighted in East Hesse raises concern for native bees
An Asian hornet was spotted in Michelsrombach, East Hesse, prompting beekeepers to warn of threats to honeybees and call for public reporting of further sightings.
3 months ago

[HEALTH] 2 sources
First Asian hornet nests detected in Austria’s Vorarlberg region
Two Asian hornet nests were found and destroyed in Lustenau, Austria, the first documented nests in the country, prompting a nationwide monitoring effort to protect bee colonies.
3 months ago

[POLITICS] 4 sources
Asian Hornet Invasion Prompts Caution and Control Measures in Germany
Asian hornets, now widespread in Germany, are EU‑listed invasive pests; authorities urge reporting nests rather than DIY removal. The green peach aphid also threatens crops, with biological control recommended.
3 months ago

[HEALTH] 2 sources
Asian hornet detected in Bavaria, prompting bee‑keeper alerts
An Asian hornet queen was found in Bavaria, raising beekeeping alarms, while Germany’s blue carpenter bee, the 2024 wild bee of the year, continues to thrive harmlessly.
3 months ago

[INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
Asian hornet expands in Hungary, endangering bees and crop pollination
The Asian hornet, first spotted in Hungary in 2023, threatens bees and pollination of key crops; experts call for coordinated monitoring and control.
3 months ago

[POLITICS] 2 sources
Canary Islands activate Asian hornet response as nest removed in Gran Canaria
The Canary Islands have launched a preventive plan against the invasive Asian hornet and removed the only confirmed nest in Gran Canaria, keeping the situation under control.
4 months ago

[INTERNATIONAL] 3 sources
Asian Hornet Found on Gran Canaria as Germany Expands Beekeeper Aid
A nest of 93 Asian hornets was removed on Gran Canaria, while Germany reports rising sightings and introduces subsidies for beekeepers to combat the invasive species.
4 months ago

[INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
Asian Hornet Spread Threatens Bees in Germany's Märkischer Kreis and Karlsruhe
Asian hornets proliferate in Germany, endangering bees and crops; beekeepers and activists urge nest removal.
4 months ago

[INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
Germany offers up to €2,000 to combat invasive Asian hornet
Germany pays up to €2,000 for removal of invasive Asian hornet nests as sightings surge.
4 months ago

[POLITICS] 2 sources
German municipalities fund special lance to combat Asian hornet spread
Gaggenau subsidizes a steam‑vented lance to destroy Asian hornet nests, while Hessen reports new sightings and urges public reporting.
4 months ago

[POLITICS] 8 sources
Belgian towns ramp up Asian hornet control measures for 2026
Belgian towns plan free nest removal and volunteer traps in 2026 to curb Asian hornets.

Sources

5min.at · actu.fr · allgaeuer-anzeigeblatt.de · androidworld.nl · apach57.fr · atlantico.net · attendorner-geschichten.de · augsburger-allgemeine.de · berliner-kurier.de · biobestrijding.nl · bol-an.nl · bonheiden.be · braunschweiger-zeitung.de · buggenhout.be · cdn4.svenskatecknare.se · chip.de · clementine-autain.fr · de.euronews.com · decofabrica.com · derwesten.de · diario.mx · echo-hassfurt.de · economx.hu · efakt.pl · elchaplon.com · fehmarn24.de · foxweather.com · gemeentestein.nl · genk.be · gld.nl · gofeminin.de · goodnews4.de · harelbeke.be · herzele.be · imgl.krone.at · insidebw.de · ka-news.de · karlsruhe-insider.de · kleinezeitung.at · kreiszeitung.de · kurier.at · kurierverlag.de · l-iz.de · laopinioncoruna.es · leadership.com.hk · leinetal24.de · letribunaldunet.fr · livekritik.de

This summary has been updated 16 times: see revision history