- Desperate Plea: Beekeepers Urge Assistance in Controlling Asian Hornets Issue
The Berlin Beekeepers' Association is trying to stop the Asian Giant Hornet from spreading in the city and is asking for people's help in finding these insects. They believe the hornets might be hiding on flowering ivy, so they urge Berliners to look out for ivy throughout the city during the blooming period. Melanie von Orlow, the group's leader, said this to the German Press Agency, explaining that it only takes a short time on a sunny day without rain in mild temperatures to spot honeybees and wasps on the flowers. If anyone spots larger insects on ivy, they should capture it on video and send the footage, along with the location of the find, to the Hymenopteren Service of NABU Berlin's state association for identification.
The Asian Giant Hornet poses a significant threat to bee colonies; they attack them. Honeybees are the Asian Giant Hornet's main food source — making up 80% of their diet. Adults mainly eat nectar, ripe fruit, and sugary fluids from trees, according to NABU.
This dangerous insect has already spread in southwestern Germany and experienced rapid growth, said von Orlow. Berlin reported its first case last year, with one hornet discovered in a Schöneberg restaurant. This year, there have been over 200 suspected cases reported to NABU Berlin, all of which have been negative so far.
The Asian Giant Hornet, also known as Vespa velutina, is smaller than the European Hornet and has a mainly black body with a black head and yellowish front and legs. They build their nests in tall tree crowns.
First spotted in Europe in 2004 in France, the hornet most likely arrived from China via sea on imported goods. Since then, it has also been reported in Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, and the Netherlands. The first case in Germany was recorded in 2014, in Baden-Württemberg.
Other insects might also be attracted to the flowering ivy, as it provides a rich source of nectar and pollen. Furthermore, if anyone encounters a hornet that seems larger than usual and suspects it to be the Asian Giant Hornet, they should avoid it and immediately alert the authorities.
