Overview
- The Asian hornet has been confirmed in Baden-Württemberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Hesse, Saarland and parts of northern Germany since its 2014 debut, with milder winters accelerating its expansion.
- Beekeeping associations warn that up to 1,000 nests may have been active in 2024 and that many more likely remain undetected.
- Vespa velutina has been listed as an invasive species by the EU since 2016, triggering mandatory public reporting of sightings to regional conservation authorities and Naturschutzbund Deutschland (NABU).
- Although the hornet feeds on up to 80 percent honeybees alongside flies and beetles, experts say local apiaries have managed losses without widespread hive collapses.
- Stings are mostly painful but not dangerous for healthy people; allergy sufferers should seek immediate medical attention and avoid disturbing nests.