Urgent Challenge in Europe: Asian Hornet Threatens Honey Production and Biodiversity
The advance of Asian hornets, also known as “velutina wasps”, is causing alarm among beekeepers and European legislators, with the native bee population at risk and honey production compromised.
In the last decade, the worsening invasion of Asian hornets, also known as “velutina wasps”, has intensified the cause for growing concern among beekeepers and European legislators. First identified on the continent two decades ago, these invasive wasps are decimating bee populations in several European Union countries, threatening not only honey production, but also biodiversity.
What is the current situation?
Asian wasps, originally from Southeast Asia, arrived in Europe through the port of Bordeaux in 2004. It is believed that this happened in a ceramic container imported from China. Since then, they have expanded rapidly, reaching countries such as the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal and Italy. In Italy in particular, the invasion began in 2012 and is causing significant damage in the northern regions of the country.
Deputies of the European Parliament, especially the eleven representatives of the right-wing Forza Italia party, are putting pressure on the European Union to take urgent action. They request, in fact, the implementation of “specific measures to combat the spread of the insect by financing control systems with funds from the European Union”.
Impact on native bees and honey production
The Asian hornet, scientifically known as “vespa velutina”, is considered a voracious predator capable of killing up to 30 bees per day. Since 2004, this invasion has contributed to a decline in the bee population in some EU countries. This constitutes a direct threat to traditional pollinators, in particular honey bees, essential for the production of high-quality honey, for which Italy is also renowned.
Salvatore De Meo, Member of the European Parliament and supporter of this cause, warns that this phenomenon puts biodiversity at risk and highlights the importance of native bees in maintaining healthy ecosystems. The decline in honey production is already evident, with losses estimated at 35% in Portugal in recent years and losses of 30.8 million euros annually in France.
In Italy, the invasion began in the Liguria region until it spread to Piedmont, Tuscany and, more recently, Emilia-Romagna and Veneto. Although the full impact on Italian honey production is still unclear, estimates point to significant losses, reaching 50% in Liguria.
The speed with which Asian hornets kill bees, dismembering them and taking the remains back to their nests to feed their young, prevents bees from leaving their hives in time to save themselves.
A wake-up call to urgent challenges
Beekeepers, policymakers and researchers are joining forces to confront this threat. In addition to the financing control measures proposed by Italian deputies at European headquarters, a coordinated and more concerted approach at European level is in fact called for. This includes sharing best practices, continued research into effective control methods and raising public awareness about the importance of bees in maintaining ecosystems.
With cases of this invasive species on the rise in the UK in 2023, the need for urgent action is indeed clear. The European Commission is now urged to take decisive action to contain the spread of Asian hornets, protecting native bees, honey production and biodiversity in the EU.