Asian hornet: Excitement among Austria’s beekeepers

The “Vespa velutina” from Southeast Asia, which was introduced to France in 2004, hunts and destroys insects, including honey bees. It was discovered for the first time in Austria two days ago. Beekeepers see the local bee colonies at risk if this hornet species spreads.

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The discovery is a single hornet queen, as Salzburg’s state master beekeeper Thomas Renner described in an APA interview on Thursday. She flew through an open window into a clinic laboratory and was captured alive. There was also a parking area for motorhomes nearby. Since it cannot be ruled out that there are other Asian hornets in this area, decoy pots are set up to catch them.

“AGES has identified the hornet”

“The AGES (Agency for Health and Food Security, note) is now with us. They have identified the hornet,” said Renner. Now it is checked whether the queen has been mated. As a precautionary measure, not only the Austrian but also the Bavarian beekeepers were informed according to an alarm plan because the site of the discovery was close to the border with Germany. As a result, the emergency services organizations, communities and the population are sensitized.

There is a danger for the native bees if the Asian hornets manage to successfully establish nests. “Then we have an acute problem,” said Renner. “Where the pest is not handled successfully, beekeeping will come to a standstill.” As a result, fruit and horticulture will also suffer damage.

Report to hotline

However, the Asian hornet is no more dangerous to the civilian population than the native species, explained the state master beekeeper. People should behave the same as with other hornets. If you find nests, you should not clear them away. The Imkerhof Salzburg has set up its own telephone hotline at +43 (0)664/99025539. Anyone who observes a “Vespa velutina” or discovers nests should contact the hotline, AGES or the state of Salzburg.

In any case, the animals should not be caught or killed as they could be confused with native species. In contrast to the European hornet, the Asian hornet does not have a reddish-brown top of the head, but rather a black one. The black legs with yellow tips are also striking. The chest section is black, the abdomen is mostly black with an orange band.

Queen without a nest?

According to AGES, occurrences of the Asian hornet have been known in large parts of France, Portugal, Spain, Italy and Germany since 2015. In 2016 it reached the Channel Islands and Great Britain. In 2017, a reproductive queen was spotted in Switzerland (Canton Jura). In 2023, the Asian hornet was observed in Hungary, near the Austrian border. It is believed to be possible for all of Europe to southern Scandinavia. According to current estimates, the specimen that was found in Salzburg on April 9th ​​was an isolated find due to the time of year, probably of a queen without an established nest.

The Vespa velutina is of interest to beekeepers because it prefers to hunt social hymenoptera (bees, wasps, flies), spiders and grasshoppers in order to provide for its brood, as AGES informs on its homepage. The question of how much damage it can cause to bee colonies is assessed differently. The Vespa velutina is active during the day and hunts its prey in flight. In front of the beehives it lies in wait for the returning bees while hovering. If the Asian hornet density is high, colonies can weaken and even colony losses can occur. In late fall, when the strength of other insect populations declines, approximately 75 bees can be captured per day.

Nests with a diameter of 40 to 60 centimeters with a side exit in high trees are characteristic. The hornet colony consists of an average of 6,000 individuals, with only the queens overwintering. The Asian hornet is just as harmless to healthy people as the native hornet, Vespa cabro. However, allergic reactions are possible. Both species behave peacefully and usually only attack humans when threatened. The noisy flight is particularly disturbing.