National Strategy Urged to Combat Oriental Hornet Crisis in Malta

Severe honeybee colony losses due to a growing Oriental hornet crisis in Malta have led to urgent calls for a national intervention plan. There are demands for a multi-agency task force, emergency spring queen controls, and direct compensation for beekeepers after widespread hive damage. The political party Momentum has urged authorities to implement a structured response before the next breeding season. Despite government funding for pest traps, beekeepers faced unprecedented pressure over summer, showing that traps alone cannot stop the hornets. Officials have acknowledged that trapping alone fails to control population growth, especially as hornets invade dense residential areas. Momentum emphasized that planning must begin before further colony collapses occur.