Asian hornet: the field card
Yellow legs, dark body, nest up high: an invader you never tackle alone.
Card 07
Vespa velutina nigrithorax
In short
The yellow-legged Asian hornet (Vespa velutina nigrithorax) arrived in France in 2004, in Lot-et-Garonne, and is now found across mainland France. Dark, with a broad orange band and yellow leg tips, it builds a small primary nest in spring, then a large summer nest often high up in trees. Stay more than 5 m away from a nest and have it destroyed by a professional.
The French National Museum of Natural History (MNHN) has tracked its spread since it arrived. An opportunistic predator, it hunts large numbers of bees, wasps and flies and is often seen hovering in front of beehives.
Its cycle is annual. A founding queen comes out of hibernation in spring and builds an orange-sized primary nest in a sheltered spot such as a shed, porch or hedge. In summer the colony often moves to a secondary nest that can exceed 50 cm in height, then dies off as winter sets in. Only future queens hibernate, and the nest is never reused.
Tell-tale signs of Asian hornets
- 1A round or pear-shaped nest with a small side entrance, often high in a tree.
- 2A small orange-sized primary nest under a porch or in a shed in spring.
- 3Dark hornets hovering in front of beehives or flower beds.
- 4Yellow leg tips, unlike the European hornet, which is more reddish with brown legs.
Risk index
DeratiseurPRO rating, from 1 (low) to 5 (high).
- Health
- 4/5
- Damage
- 2/5
- Spread
- 3/5
The risks
- Multiple stings if the nest is disturbed: the colony defends it fiercely.
- Severe allergic reactions are possible, even after a single sting.
- Predation on honeybees and pressure on apiaries.
- Nests discovered too late, while trimming a hedge or pruning a tree.
How we treat it
- 01
Detect
Locating and identifying the nest, assessing height and access, setting a safety perimeter.
- 02
Neutralise
Injection of an authorised insecticide into the heart of the nest, using a telescopic pole if needed, ideally once the colony is home.
- 03
Lock
Removal of the nest when it can be reached, and tips for spotting primary nests the following spring.
- 04
Monitor
Check that activity has stopped, photo report and written guarantee.
Prevention checklist
Simple habits that lower the risk of the intruder coming back.
- Inspect hedges, porches and sheds in April–May to spot primary nests.
- Check a bush before trimming or pruning it.
- Stay more than 5 m from a nest; never hit it or hose it.
- Avoid non-selective syrup traps, which mostly kill other insects.
Frequently asked questions
Is it more dangerous than the European hornet?
One sting on its own is not more toxic. The danger is the nest: the colony attacks in numbers if you get close or shake it. An allergic reaction is still possible after a single sting.
Can I destroy the nest myself?
It is not recommended. ANSES advises keeping 5 m away and not attempting it yourself. A professional has protective gear, poles and authorised products.
Can my town hall help?
Some French towns and départements contribute to the cost of nest removal, so check with your mairie. You can also report the nest on the MNHN's Asian hornet website.
Got Asian hornets at home or at work?
Home, shop, restaurant or office: price shown before you book, 2-hour time slot, same-day photo report and written guarantee.