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🇩🇪 Germany /Environment & Climate

Rapid spread of Asian hornet raises questions over whether containment measures are enough

From Die Zeit · () German

Translated from German and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Newswire Named sources Ongoing story
  • Authorities in Baden-Württemberg recorded more than 2,000 Asian hornet primary nests between spring and the end of August, compared with just over 900 during the same period in 2025.
  • Officials said higher reporting could partly reflect greater public awareness, but acknowledged that the invasive species continues to spread.
  • Experts warned that removing larger secondary nests can cost far more than the available subsidies, while authorities outlined alternative removal methods.

More than 2,000 primary nests of the Asian hornet have been reported in Baden-Württemberg since spring, more than twice the number recorded during the same period last year. The invasive species is spreading rapidly across southwestern Germany, raising questions about whether current efforts can keep it under control.

The state’s Environment Agency said 2,000 so-called founding or primary nests had been reported by the end of August. Authorities recorded slightly more than 900 between January and August 2025, and more than 3,300 throughout all of last year. A spokesman for the Agriculture Ministry cautioned that the rise in reports does not necessarily reflect the spread alone. Greater public awareness of the invasive species and a higher willingness to report sightings may also have contributed.

The next challenge is already emerging. Autumn marks the peak season for secondary nests, which form when primary nests become too small and the hornets move into larger shelters. These nests can reach one metre in diameter and contain about 2,000 insects, according to the State Institute for Apiculture. Based on previous years, as many as 2,000 additional secondary nests could be reported by the end of the year.

I would say that is nowhere near enough.

· Martin KlattThe Nabu species-protection expert criticised the subsidy for removing large secondary nests.

The ministry offers about €60 to remove a primary nest and €200 for a secondary nest. Martin Klatt, a species-protection expert at Nabu, said the larger payment was inadequate because secondary nests are usually high up and often require an expensive cherry picker. Workers also need sting-resistant equipment, as ordinary beekeeper suits do not provide enough protection.

The State Institute for Apiculture said lifting platforms are not always necessary. Removal teams can use telescopic poles to reach high nests, then destroy them with hot water vapour or activated-carbon dust that blocks the insects’ airways. The institute’s expert Carolin Rein said the state should at least provide the necessary equipment so that control efforts do not rest solely on beekeepers.

We would like the state to at least provide us with the equipment and not leave control of the Asian hornet solely on the shoulders of beekeepers.

· Unspecified speakerThe article calls for government support for the equipment needed to remove the invasive species.
About this summary

Originally published by Die Zeit in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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