A threat to bees and to people
The Asian hornet arrived in France in the mid-2000s and has spread across almost the whole country, including the Alpine valleys. A formidable predator of honeybees, it threatens apiaries and pollination. It is also a real danger when its nest is close to homes.
How to identify it
- Colour: mostly black body, one broad orange band on the abdomen, yellow leg tips.
- Size: about 3 cm, slightly smaller than the European hornet.
- Nest: round or pear-shaped, it can reach the size of a beach ball. The entrance is on the side, whereas the European hornet’s is underneath.
Why is it dangerous?
For bees: it hunts in front of hives and a single nest can weaken entire colonies. For people: very defensive near its nest, it can attack as a group, sometimes from several metres away. Its stings are painful and can be serious in case of allergy or multiple stings.
What to do if you find a nest
Never try to destroy a nest yourself
- Keep your distance: at least 5 metres.
- Never block the entrance or throw anything at the nest.
- Note its exact location and approximate height.
- Call an equipped professional.
Safe removal
I work throughout the Chamonix valley with full protective clothing and a telescopic pole that reaches more than 15 m from the ground, with no cherry picker needed. The price is the same as for a wasp nest: €109 to €199 depending on height. Everything on the Asian hornet page.