The Asian hornet (Vespa velutina), an invasive predator threatening honey bees and apiaries,…

The Asian hornet (Vespa velutina), an invasive predator threatening honey bees and apiaries, has been confirmed in Poland. In Wielka Wieś near Krakow, the first fully developed nest of this species was found, with additional individuals observed at the AGH University apiary in Krakow. This insect preys on honey bees and can cause significant colony losses.

Previously mainly a concern in Western Europe, the Asian hornet was first detected in Europe in 2004 in France and has since spread to countries including Germany and the Czech Republic. The discovery of a nest in Lesser Poland confirms its arrival in Poland, though a stable widespread population has not yet been established.