Fight against the Asian hornet (Vespa velutina) in France

Pourquoi Vespa velutina menace l'apiculture française?

The Asian frelons mainly contain the melliferous beauties. A colony that can eliminate milliers of beauties in that week. Reducing honey production, disrupting pollenization and affecting beetle colonies.

• Perte de colonies: up to 30% in the infested areas
• Honey production rate: 25 to 40%
• Disorganized behaviors of the beauties

When is Vespa velutina made in France?

The Asian Frelon was discovered in 2004 in Lot-et-Garonne, introduced accidentally after China. In 2023, it is present in 98 French departments.

Year	Colonized zones
2004	Southwest
2010	West and South
2015	Centre et Pyrénées
2020	Belgian Border - Allemagne
2023	Almost all of France

Comment Vespa velutina attach-t-the ruches ?

The plane before the entry of the ruffles, capture the butineuses en vol, the decapitated ones, and transport the remains to nourrir the larves.

Who prefers the new French language?

In 2024, France will adopt a loan against Asian frelons with €12 million for:

• Indemniser les apiculteurs
• Financer les dispositifs de piégeage
• Former destruction teams

Measurements	Objective
Indemnisation directe	Compensation des pertes
Local financing	Trappes et détection
Coordination avec INRAE	Surveillance et prédiction

Comment reconnaître le frelon asiatique ?

The measurement is 20 to 25 mm, with the thorax black, an anneau orange on the abdomen, and the yellow pattes at the extrémité.

Criterion	Vespa velutina	Vespa crabro
Taille	20–25 mm	25–35 mm
Color	Noir avec anneau orangé	Roux/marron
Pattes	Extrémités jaunes	Uniforms

Comment does the national piégeage plan work?

The traps are placed in print to capture the founding kings before the construction of the nests.

• Appâts: beer, sirop, fermented fruits
• Trappes à entonnoir with metal filet
• Suivi via des applications (ex. INPN Espèces)

Qui detruit les nests de frelons asiatiques?

The nests are eliminated by the attended teams, often at dawn or at twilight, with insecticides, food or aspiration at night.

Does any natural method exist?

Actually, there is no effective predator in Europe. The tracks are explored: entomopathogènes champignons, insectivorous oiseaux, génétique biocontrol.

What is the role of beekeepers?

The beekeepers play a role: installation of traps, signaling of nests, active surveillance of their ruchers.

Are those regions the most touched?

Region	Taux d'infestation estimé
New Aquitaine	90 % des ruches impactées
Occitanie	85%
Brittany	80%
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes	70%
Île-de-France	60%, with strong progression

Below: preventative strategies, technological innovations and practical guides for beekeepers

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