Further Discoveries of the Asian Hornet in Hamburg and What That Means

13 February 2020

Photo: Willi Müller

The Asian hornet nest found at the boundary line between Horn-Billbrook.

Further discoveries have confirmed the assumption that the Asian hornet (Vespa velutina nigrithorax) has settled in Hamburg. Following the discovery of a living specimen in Billbrook, citizen scientists have now also found an orphaned nest and the existence of roughly 80 individuals. “Photos confirm that we are dealing with specimens of the Vespa velutina nigrithorax species,” said Martin Husemann, head of the Department of Entomology at the Center of Natural History (CeNak) at Universität Hamburg. Experts Quentin Rome and Rolf Witt also confirmed that the nest belongs to the Asian hornet. Wasp specialist Rolf Witt gives the all clear.

“If you encounter an Asian hornet, you should behave just as you do with native wasp species. Never deal with the nest on your own,” says Rolf Witt. “They are not more aggressive than the annoying yellow jackets or more poisonous than the honeybee or native hornet.”

Witt sees “absolutely no threat” to the native hornet or wild bees posed by the Vespa velutina, nor does he see any immediate danger to the honeybee: “The threat potential is not any higher than the one posed by the native hornet (Vespa crabro), which also regularly preys on small quantities of honeybees in honeybee hives. All previous observations in Germany, including our own, show that there have been no significant attacks, and the situation differs from the one in southern Europe.”

The proximity of the sites where the hornets and nest were found could mean that, at the moment, we are looking at a local settlement. “Perhaps there was just a single nest in Hamburg last year,” said Martin Husemann.

Rolf Witt believes that the colony discovered in Hamburg had just ended its normal developmental cycle and that various young queens and males had hatched. “It remains unclear to what extent and how many young queens mated. We can assume, however, that there will be a few more nests this year.”

Since 2004, this hornet species, which hails from Southeast Asia, has spread throughout Europe via France. The newest discoveries in the Billbrook and Horn districts of Hamburg mean that there is a temporary settlement at the very least.

In the wake of the globalization of trade and the increase in worldwide tourism, more and more animal and plant species are finding their way out of their native habitats and into foreign countries and ecological systems. “If a species manages to propagate significantly, to spread, and even to establish itself, that could have negative consequences for biodiversity and related ecosystem dynamics; it could also affect health and the economy,” said Christian Hach from the Ministry of Environment and Energy in Hamburg.

The Asian hornet (Vespa velutina nigrithorax) was listed by the European Commission in 2016. Because this species has only been found in southwest Germany so far and has not yet spread throughout the country, it is subject to early detection.

“We ask all citizens to notify the competent authorities via email about discoveries as early as possible, to name the site and date, and—if possible—to provide photos.The authorities will analyze the find and, if necessary, take measures to remove the hornets,” said Christian Hach.

If you find Asian hornets, notify CeNak at martin.husemann@uni-hamburg.de and notify the Ministry of Environment and Energy directly at Invasive-Arten@BUE.Hamburg.de.

Handling of invasive species in the EU

With the coming into force of Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2014 on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species, the EU managed for the first time to establish a binding legal framework for all member states with regard to handling invasive alien animal and plant species. The regulation aims to prevent the introduction of invasive alien species, ensure the procurement of monitoring and early warning systems, remove populations in the early phases of invasion, and manage established populations of invasive species.

The Union lists published by the European Commission include 66 invasive alien animal and plant species whose negative impact on biodiversity is viewed as being significant and as having great potential for spreading across borders, thus requiring a concentrated, overarching approach by member states to address the negative consequences.

Species whose appearance in Hamburg must be reported immediately include, for example, the American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus), the African sacred ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus), and the water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes). The Federal Agency of Nature Conservation has a complete list of identified species subject to early detection.

You do not need to report species that are widespread in Germany and Hamburg–for example, the Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) or the raccoon (Procyon lotor). For theses species, member states are developing effective management strategies pursuant to the regulation’s guidelines. Their goal is to minimize the negative effects of invasive alien species on biodiversity, related ecological processes, human health, and the economy and to mitigate population spread. In many cases, it is no longer possible to remove the species that are now widespread from the ecosystem.

More information on this topic:
Hamburg Ministry of Environment and Energy

Rolf Witt (Umwelt- & Medienbüro Witt, Edewecht, www.umbw.de)
http://frelonasiatique.mnhn.fr/home/

http://www.hornissenschutz.de/vespa-velutina-deutsch.htm

Reporting discovery of Asian hornet
Invasive-Arten"AT"BUE.Hamburg.de

Contact
Dr. Martin Husemann
Center of Natural History (CeNak)
Universität Hamburg
Martin-Luther-King-Platz 3
20146 Hamburg
Martin.Husemann"AT"uni-hamburg.de