Everything about the Asian hornet
Short, checkable answers to the questions householders and beekeepers actually ask, backed by official sources.
How do you identify an Asian hornet?
Black thorax, one wide orange band on the abdomen, bright yellow leg tips: the features that separate the Asian hornet from the European hornet, with no room for doubt.
Read the guideAsian hornet nest: what should you do?
What to do when a nest is found: safety distance, reporting, choosing who intervenes, and the attempts you should never make yourself.
Read the guideHow much does Asian hornet nest removal cost?
Price ranges seen in 2026, what makes a quote vary, what a proper job includes, and the support schemes that can cut the bill.
Read the guideWhat is the life cycle of the Asian hornet?
From the emergence of foundresses in spring to the death of the colony in winter: the yearly calendar and what it means for monitoring.
Read the guideDoes trapping Asian hornets actually work?
What INRAE, the National Museum of Natural History and ITSAP found about spring trapping, and how to trap without wiping out everything else.
Read the guideIs an Asian hornet sting dangerous?
What a sting actually does, the signs that call for emergency services, and the steps to take in the minutes that follow.
Read the guideWhy does the Asian hornet threaten honeybees?
How predation unfolds in front of the hives, what it costs French beekeeping, and the protective measures that work.
Read the guideWhat does the law say about the Asian hornet?
Invasive alien species status, the French law of 14 March 2025, the December 2025 decree and the national plan launched in March 2026: the framework and what it changes.
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