Overview

• Authorities in Hesse have recorded more than 100 Asian hornet nests so far in 2025, following 280 nests discovered across the state in 2024.
• The Federal Environment Ministry reclassified Vespa velutina as a widely spread species in March, removing it from the early-warning list.
• Reported nest removals must undergo individual case reviews before approval rather than automatic eradication.
• Lower Saxony logged over 100 confirmed sightings of the hornet in 2024 compared with only a handful in 2023.
• Authorities continue to solicit online reports from residents to refine tracking and control measures.