In Diyarbakır’s Çüngüş district, beekeepers focus on protecting their hives from hornets in…

In Diyarbakır’s Çüngüş district, beekeepers focus on protecting their hives from hornets in autumn rather than harvesting honey. Oriental hornets, seeking protein for their larvae, attack honey bees and confront guard bees at hive entrances.

Oriental hornets (Vespa orientalis), common in warm regions, especially target honey bees in autumn. Guard bees at hive entrances try to defend their colonies.

Agricultural engineer Rahime Yıldırım Kurtoğlu, managing 200 hives in Çüngüş, dedicates much effort to hive protection due to increased hornet attacks. She uses traps baited with chicken liver to catch hornets, but attacks sometimes intensify. Guard bees defending hive entrances can also be attacked and preyed upon.