Asian Hornet (Vespa velutina)
Krankheiten
The Asian hornet Vespa velutina nigrithorax is an introduced species that has been spreading in Germany since it was first detected near Karlsruhe in 2014.
The Asian hornet Vespa velutina nigrithorax is an introduced species that has been spreading in Germany since it was first detected near Karlsruhe in 2014. It is somewhat smaller than the native hornet; workers reach about two and a half centimeters, queens about three centimeters. Characteristic features are the dark, almost black-brown body, the yellow face, and the yellow leg tips, which have earned it the name yellow-legged hornet. The nests often hang freely and high up in tree canopies.
It is relevant for beekeeping because honey bees can make up a very large share of its prey. Characteristic is its hawking behavior: the hornets hover in front of the entrance and catch approaching foragers. The constant pressure leads the bees to restrict their flying activity and bring in less pollen and nectar, which is especially dangerous for winter preparation in late summer. A suddenly and sharply reduced amount of flight activity, and bees clustering at the entrance, are therefore noticeable.
At the apiary, mechanical measures help: narrowing entrances so far that bees can pass but hornets cannot get in, protective screens or guards at the entrance, keeping strong colonies, and moving vulnerable nuclei and swarms to a different location. Mass-trapping traps should be viewed critically, because they act non-selectively and kill many protected native insects along with the target species.
The species has been on the Union list of invasive alien species under EU Regulation 1143/2014 since 2016. Since March 2025 it has been considered established in Germany and is handled according to management guidelines rather than early-detection rules, which is why the nationwide reporting requirement has lapsed there. Finds should nevertheless be reported to the responsible authorities, usually the lower nature conservation authorities of the counties (Landkreise) and independent cities, since finding and removing the nests depends on this. Individual German states have their own reporting and control structures, whose requirements must be observed.
Fighting a nest on one's own authority should be avoided. Nests often sit high up and are defended vigorously when disturbed; there is also a risk of confusion with the protected native hornet. Removal belongs in the hands of trained specialists commissioned by the responsible authority.