Killing as many Asian hornets as possible must have the utmost priority, a German beekeeping expert has claimed.
Asian hornets (Vespa velutina) are indigenous to Southeast Asia but have spread quickly in Western and Central Europe since having arrived in France in cargo shipping in 2004.
The predatory insect kills and eats honeybees. As honeybees cannot defend themselves, whole colonies are being destroyed if no one interferes with an Asian hornet attack on their hives.
Matthias Roth heads the Cologne Union of Beekeepers.
He explained: “In each hive, there are bees that mostly remain inside to manage the breeding as well as the production of honey. When they notice that their peers are getting eaten up, they refrain from coming out at all.”
Speaking to the Bild newspaper, Matthias argued: “We must destroy as many Asian hornets as possible. We won’t be able to eradicate them completely. However, it’s possible to reduce their number.”
But Matthias also warned not to take action without the needed expertise. He said: “Non-specialists should never try to kill such hornets.”
The apiarist said it was better to take a photo and inform the local nature authorities.
Asian hornet queens measure approximately 30 millimetres while workers reach a body length of around 20 millimetres.
Matthias told Bild: “Their nests consist of thousands of hornets so they need lots of food.”
Dr Eric Darrouzet from Tours University in France recently emphasised that an Asian hornet colony had the potential to eat up to 11 kilogrammes of various insects per year.
Considered an invasive species by European Union officials, Asian hornets must not be kept, bred or offered for sale.
Matthias concluded: “The Asian hornet has come here to stay.”
