The Threat of Asian Hornets to Beekeeping and Honey Production in Europe

About Asian Hornets

The Asian hornet is a species of hornet indigenous to south-east Asia. A staggering increase in the number of Asian hornet sightings in the UK has beekeepers and wildlife lovers there reeling. But the invasive species poses a substantial threat to beekeeping and honey production across Europe. Asian hornets (Vespa velutina), which are native to south-east Asia, are a top predator of honeybees. Just one Asian hornet reputedly can hunt down and eat up to 50 honeybees a day. Research estimates that Asian hornets could cost the French economy €30.8 million (£26.4 million) every year in a worst-case scenario. But their menace extends beyond bees in a hive.