Asian hornet: identify and report a nest

An invasive species, dangerous for bees and biodiversity. Learn to identify it and report any nest in under a minute.

Report an Asian hornet nest Identify an Asian hornet

The Asian hornet (Vespa velutina) is an invasive species that arrived in Europe in 2004. Present across most of France and spreading fast in Belgium, it settles in cities and countryside alike. Every untreated nest can produce several founding queens the following year.

It is a formidable predator of honey bees and pollinating insects. Reporting a nest quickly lets a certified professional intervene before future queens disperse, and helps municipalities track the species' progression.

Reports on WASPP in 2026

reported nests

treated nests

Identify an Asian hornet

•Size : 17 to 30 mm, smaller than the European hornet
•Colour : black thorax, yellow leg tips, dark abdomen with an orange/yellow band on the 4th segment
•Nest : spherical, 40 to 80 cm in diameter, side entrance, often high up (tree, roof, façade)
•Activity : active during the day only, distinctive hovering flight in front of beehives

Is the Asian hornet dangerous?

Its sting is comparable to a wasp's, but the danger lies in the nest's collective defence: within 5 metres, dozens of individuals can attack at once. Multiple stings and allergic reactions require prompt medical care. For beehives and pollinators the threat is constant: a few hornets are enough to paralyse a bee colony.

✓ Do

Keep your distance (at least 5 m)
Photograph from a distance if possible
Report immediately on WASPP
Call a certified professional

✗ Don't

Try to destroy the nest yourself
Spray with water, petrol or pesticide
Use a ladder or aerial platform without PPE
Approach closer than 5 m

Good to know

Depending on your municipality or region, the destruction of an Asian hornet nest may be covered or subsidised. By reporting your nest on WASPP, you are connected to a professional active in your area who knows the local schemes.

Primary or secondary nest?

In spring, the queen builds a small primary nest (from the size of a tennis ball to a football), often low and close to homes: garden shed, roof overhang, hedge, outbuilding. In summer, the colony often moves to a much larger secondary nest, usually high up in a tree. Spotting and reporting a primary nest early in the season makes the intervention far simpler and limits the dispersal of future queens.

Is there a grant for destroying an Asian hornet nest?

Depending on your region and municipality, destroying an Asian hornet nest may be partly or fully covered: regional schemes in Belgium, support from some EPCIs and municipalities in France. Conditions vary and change every year. By reporting your nest on WASPP, the notified professional knows the schemes in force in your area and guides you.

Frequently asked questions

The Asian hornet is smaller (17-30 mm) and darker, with yellow leg tips and a single orange band on the abdomen. The European hornet (Vespa crabro) is larger (up to 35 mm), with a mostly yellow abdomen striped with black. The Asian hornet's nest usually hangs high up with a side entrance; the European hornet's hides in a cavity (hollow tree, attic).

No. Destroying a nest requires full protective equipment and an appropriate treatment, often at height. Attempting it without equipment triggers an extremely dangerous collective attack. Report the nest: an equipped professional will intervene.

It depends on your municipality and region: some local authorities cover all or part of the intervention, in Belgium as in France. Reporting on WASPP is free, and the notified professional informs you of the conditions applicable in your area.

A lone individual doesn't mean a nest is nearby: hornets hunt up to several hundred metres from their colony. Watch the flight direction at the end of the day and report the nest as soon as you locate it, without approaching.

Identify other species

Not sure about the species? Check our other identification guides.

Ready to report?

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