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Austria starts monitoring against spread

The Asian hornet (pictured) was first discovered in Austria two days ago.(Bild: APA/dpa/Axel Heimken)

Following sightings of the Asian hornet (Vespa velutina) in Salzburg, Biene Österreich and the Chambers of Agriculture have now started a new monitoring program throughout Austria as part of the warning service.

The bee-damaging predatory insect is a cause of great concern for local fruit and wine growers in particular. Since 2004, the hornet species Vespa velutina has been accidentally introduced to France from Central and East Asia. There it has caused great damage to bee colonies in many regions, Biene Österreich warned in a press release on Friday. Since then, the animals have been spreading throughout Europe and now possibly also in Austria.

Combating Velutina is therefore of great importance in order to minimize the damage to the environment, the beekeeping industry and other agricultural production sectors such as vegetable and fruit growing.

Landwirtschaftskammer Österreich-Präsident Josef Moosbrugger

Major threat to honey bees
Invasive alien species are one of the greatest threats to biodiversity and the associated ecosystem services. The risks posed by such species may be exacerbated by increasing global trade, transportation, tourism and climate change, the report continued. "The fight against Velutina is therefore of great importance in order to minimize the damage to the environment, the beekeeping industry and other agricultural production sectors such as vegetable and fruit growing," emphasized Josef Moosbrugger, President of the Austrian Chamber of Agriculture, in another press release.

According to Regulation (EU) 1143/2014 on the management of alien species, Vespa velutina must also be controlled. The Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology is responsible at federal level. At state level, the responsible departments of the state government offices.

First sightings near the border with Austria in 2023
In August 2023, there were already the first confirmed sightings of the Asian hornet in Bavaria and Hungary near the border with Austria, reported the Chamber of Agriculture (LK). According to its own information, Biene Österreich has been working intensively on the issue since the previous year and has presented a control concept that was developed through an intensive exchange of ideas with experts from AGES, the Federal Environment Agency and the federal states, among others.

Reporting sightings
The main task of the beekeeping sector will be monitoring, i.e. reporting sightings of individual animals and nests. Other people can also register on the platform and report sightings. Smartphone images can be uploaded and the location of the sighting specified. If it is indeed Vespa velutina, a report is sent to the responsible state authority.