Asian hornets: beekeepers on alert!

Asian hornets: beekeepers on alert!

The alarming spread of Asian hornets in Germany is currently a explosive topic among beekeepers. This invasive insect type, which has increased rapidly in recent years, is a risk of extermination for native bee colonies. According to information from Merkur have doubled the reported nests compared to the previous year, with over 1000 nests alone in this year. The federal states of Baden-Württemberg, Saarland, Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia are particularly affected, but sightings are now also documented throughout Germany.

The threat to bees and agriculture

beekeepers report massive losses: An example is the Duisburg beekeeper Michael Wiedemann, who has lost an entire bee colony of 20,000 animals to the Asian hornets. These insects are not only a danger to honeybees, but also affect fruit and wine production, which also exacerbates the already tense Situation for the beekeepers. Dr. Manfred Veraagh, an entomologist at the Karlsruhe Natural History Museum, emphasizes that the hornets have hardly any natural enemies in Germany and can thus multiply unhindered, which leads to an increased competition for food resources. In particular, the pollinator population, which is of crucial importance for the biodiversity, could be seriously affected, as ZDF

The aggressive defense of the nests by the Asian hornets makes it difficult to remove them successfully. Nests that are about the size of a handball at the beginning grow in the course of summer and can often be found in high trees. Experts advise the population to report nests and keep your distance from avoiding a possible conflict with the aggressive insects. The best strategy to contain this threat could be the cooperation between the citizens with the nature conservation authorities in order to slow down the spread and to keep the number of peoples in balance.