Overview

• The Asian hornet, officially classified as established in Germany since 2025, continues its rapid spread across multiple states, including North Rhine-Westphalia and Baden-Württemberg.
• New policies require property owners to commission and pay for nest removals, with government-funded interventions limited to exceptional cases where public safety or critical ecosystems are at risk.
• Experts report a significant rise in nest counts, with over 1,300 sightings in NRW in 2024 and projections for further increases in 2025, complicating containment efforts.
• The hornet poses a major threat to pollinators, preying heavily on honeybees, which constitute up to 80% of its diet, and impacting agriculture and biodiversity.
• Authorities and researchers are testing targeted trapping methods and developing a national containment plan, but progress is hindered by limited resources and data gaps.