Invasive Asian hornet nest destroyed in Poland, more expected in spring

In brief

• Poland's first detected yellow-legged hornet nest was removed on October 19 in Wielka Wieś near Kraków.
• Firefighters removed the nest at night and gave it to researchers for analysis.
• The hornet threatens honeybees, and experts expect several dozen new nests next spring.

First nest removed near Kraków

The first yellow-legged hornet nest found in Poland was destroyed on October 19 in Wielka Wieś, a village near Kraków (W Polsce zlikwidowano pierwsze gniazdo azjatyckiego szerszenia — RMF24 | UA.NEWS – ua.news) (Inwazyjny gatunek szerszenia w Małopolsce. Gniazdo zostało zlikwidowane, ale to nie koniec – Onet) (Groźny azjatycki szerszeń w Polsce. Zlikwidowano pierwsze gniazdo, ale będą kolejne – RMF24). Firefighters carried out the operation on behalf of the Regional Directorate for Environmental Protection, working after dark in protective suits and using chemical agents meant for wasps and hornets. The nest was removed whole, secured and handed over to researchers for analysis.

Sightings in Kraków

The species was first noticed in October in Wielka Wieś, and later also at an apiary belonging to the AGH University of Science and Technology in Kraków. The yellow-legged hornet, native to Asia, was first recorded in Europe in France in 2004 and has since spread to neighbouring countries, including Germany and the Czech Republic (Szerszenie azjatyckie w Polsce. Wiosną będzie kilkadziesiąt gniazd - Zielona w INTERIA.PL – zielona.interia.pl).

Threat to bees

The hornet preys mainly on bees, which makes it especially dangerous for honeybee colonies. Observations from Western Europe show that colonies weaken when the hornets are present near apiaries.

Outlook for spring

Beekeeper and researcher Dr Łukasz Nicewicz of the University of Silesia said most queens have already left the destroyed nest to overwinter elsewhere. He expects at least several dozen new nests to appear in the spring.

Control methods

Scientists currently regard destroying nests as the only effective way to fight the hornet. Traps can also be set, but they work less well.