Why hunt the Asian hornet?

Protect bees, preserve biodiversity, and maintain garden balance.

Why hunt the Asian hornet?

Threat to Domestic Honeybees
The Asian hornet places direct pressure on domestic honeybees by capturing them in flight, primarily at the entrance to the hive. This repeated predatory behavior disrupts the activity of foraging bees, disorganizes the colony, and generates sustained stress.

In the medium term, this pressure can lead to a decrease in foraging activity, a general weakening of the colony, and, in some cases, a drop in honey production. In highly exposed apiaries, the cumulative effect can become significant for the beekeeper.

Impact on the Ecosystem
Beyond honeybees, this invasive species attacks other insects, particularly wild pollinators. The Asian hornet is not an exclusive predator of domestic honeybees; it also captures various species present in its environment. It is worth noting that a single nest can consume up to 11 kg of insects in one year.

The impact on biodiversity thus extends beyond the sole scope of beekeeping.
Pièges à frelons asiatique sélectif pour pot en verre modèle "La Nasse" La Buse Qui File

Identifying the Asian hornet

The Asian hornet (Vespa velutina nigrithorax) is an invasive species that appeared in France around 2004-2005. Originally from Asia, this predator of many social insects, particularly honeybees, has rapidly spread throughout Western Europe. Its presence poses a threat to biodiversity and beekeeping.

It can be recognized by its predominantly black body with a single orange-yellow abdominal band and black legs with yellow tips. The thorax is entirely black and the terminal segment of the abdomen is yellow. Its antennae are black. The European hornet (Vespa crabro) is lighter with two-thirds of its abdomen yellow and reddish-brown legs. Males can also be distinguished from females by observing their antennae: males have 13 antennal segments compared to 12 in queens and workers.

When to set up an Asian hornet trap?

The optimal period generally runs from mid-February to the end of May. This corresponds to the phase during which the queen seeks to feed herself and build a primary nest. Once the first workers have appeared, trapping becomes less selective and is more likely to affect non-target insects.

Founder queens emerge from hibernation in early spring to establish new colonies. Mass trapping early in the season can catch queens but also many non-target insects; no trapping solution is entirely selective. It is recommended to place traps near apiaries or areas of hornet activity from late spring onwards and to check traps daily to release non-target species. Our traps use a sweet bait that attracts hornets without chemicals.

Why and how to prepare natural bait?

Queens look for carbohydrates and are attracted to fermented and acetic odors. Here is the basic recipe, with a clear objective: to attract hornets while repelling bees.

Ingredients (in equal parts - 1/3 of each):

• Dark or light beer: Its fermented smell is an excellent basic attractant.
• Dry white wine: Its acidity and alcohol act as a powerful repellent for bees, which detest this smell.
• Red fruit syrup (blackcurrant, grenadine, raspberry): This is the very fragrant source of sugar that will attract hornets from afar. Blackcurrant is often cited as the most effective.

Preparation and safety tips:

• Mixing: Mix the three ingredients directly in the trap.

• Anti-drowning tip: ALWAYS place a clean sponge at the bottom of the trap. Pour the mixture ONLY onto the sponge to soak it thoroughly.

• Important: The sponge must NEVER touch the lid!

• Respect for the ecosystem: Thanks to the sponge, drowning is avoided — only Asian hornets are truly trapped, while other beneficial insects can often get out. This is exactly what makes the trap useful and selective!

Leverage the bandwagon effect and maximize captures

Asian hornets are not only attracted by the smell of bait: they are also able to detect pheromones emitted by their congeners. When a hornet is captured, it releases alarm or stress pheromones, which increase local attraction and accelerate the rate of captures. This is why it is strategic, from the first catches, to keep captured hornets alive for as long as possible in order to exploit this amplifying effect to the maximum.

• Two essential points to achieve this:

1 - Keep hornets alive: Install the trap in the shade to avoid overheating, especially in summer. Conditions that are too hot or direct exposure to the sun would quickly kill them and nullify this attractive effect.

2 - Make them visible and active: Place the trap horizontally. Captured hornets move more easily along the bottom of the trap and thus remain near the entrance, clearly visible to hornets outside. Conversely, in a vertical trap, they constantly try to climb upwards and quickly become exhausted, out of sight of newcomers.

Pièges à frelons asiatique sélectif pour pot en verre modèle "La Nasse" La Buse Qui File

Why is this Asian hornet trap selective?

This trap was designed with a calibrated entrance that matches the size of the Asian hornet. Small insects can easily avoid the entrance or exit the trap, which significantly reduces accidental catches. This design allows for targeted hornet trapping while preserving beneficial garden insects.

The choice of bait also plays an important role in selectivity. Certain mixtures attract hornets more than bees. For example, a bait based on dark beer, white wine, and a little syrup is often used because it attracts hornets while partially repelling bees.

Finally, the shape of the trap is designed so that insects that enter have difficulty finding their way out, while smaller insects can escape more easily. This principle improves the trap's effectiveness while limiting its impact on biodiversity.

Thanks to this design, this trap helps combat the Asian hornet while maximally respecting other insects, which are essential for garden life and pollination.

Conclusion:
Trapping Asian hornets is a simple and accessible solution to protect your garden and pollinating insects.

By using a suitable and well-placed trap, it is possible to effectively limit their presence while respecting the natural balance.

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