New Taipei City Launches Tiger Bee Hotspot Alert System

New Taipei City is enhancing public safety with a new alert system for tiger bee nests. The city's Animal Protection and Disease Prevention Office has developed a Line Bot that warns residents via their smartphones if they are near a known hotspot for these aggressive insects. This initiative comes as tiger bee activity peaks during the summer months.

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The Line bot's hotspot alert system provides tiered warning functions. Based on hotspot analysis, areas within a 100-meter radius of sting incident locations are designated as high-alert zones, within 500 meters as medium-alert, and within 1 kilometer as low-alert.

According to official statistics, New Taipei City has already received 2,916 reports of tiger bee activity this year, resulting in 44 reported stings. The new system, an upgrade from a heatmap launched in 2023 with National Taiwan University's entomology department, allows users to scan a QR code to add the bot as a friend. The bot provides educational information and can track a user's location to alert them to nearby nests.

Users can also report suspected nests through the bot by sending text messages, location data, and photos. The system categorizes alerts into high, medium, and low-risk zones based on the proximity to past sting incidents. High-risk zones are within 100 meters of a sting location, medium-risk within 500 meters, and low-risk within one kilometer. Alerts become more frequent as the risk level increases, with audible warnings to notify people even if their phones are on silent.

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Tiger bee nests are often spherical, yellowish, with wavy patterns on the surface, commonly found on tree branches or under eaves, with patrolling bees flying around.

Several popular hiking trails and areas have been identified as tiger bee hotspots, including trails in Ruifang, Sanxia, Shiding, Xindian, and Pingxi districts. The Animal Protection Office advises the public to avoid approaching or disturbing nests, which are typically spherical, yellowish, and found on tree branches or under eaves. If a nest is spotted, residents should report it to the city's 1999 hotline or the animal protection hotline at 1959. In case of encountering aggressive bees, people should calmly retreat and avoid provoking them. The office also recommends wearing light-colored, long-sleeved clothing, hats, and using insect repellent with DEET when outdoors. If stung, individuals should move away from the area and seek immediate medical attention by calling 119.

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If you discover a nest or bee activity, you should temporarily stop your activity and report it to the 1999 municipal hotline or the 1959 animal protection hotline, and let professional personnel handle it.