Affected hosts
- Apis mellifera
Vespa crabro
European hornet
Native hornet that may occasionally prey on bees, but its impact is usually localized and far lower than that of the Asian hornet.
Agent
Vespa crabro
Notifiable in Portugal
No
Signs to watch for
Adult bees
- Occasional hornets near the apiary
- Single attacks on adult bees
Brood
- Occasional predation of adult bees
- Usually limited operational disturbance
Colony
- Nearby nesting sites
- Local abundance of hornets
- Weak colonies
Confirmation and identification
Field observation and monitoring
- Yellow and chestnut markings
- Large body
- Less dark appearance than the Asian hornet
- Observe frequency of visits
- Record whether predation is repeated
- Compare pressure with normal apiary activity
Laboratory methods
- Avoid confusing it with invasive species before reporting or intervening.
Control and impact reduction
Good practices
- Monitor the actual impact
- Document repeated predation if it becomes relevant
Prevention
- Keep colonies strong
- Avoid unnecessary attractants around the apiary
- Only act if real pressure is confirmed
- Destroying native nests without legal grounds
- Using indiscriminate poisons
Ongoing monitoring
Indicators
- Observations per hour
Recommended frequency
- Monitoring is mainly useful during periods of repeated sightings or localized predation.