The new plans of the province of North Holland state that the Asian hornet cannot be completely eradicated. That is why targeted control will be chosen from 2026 onwards. Only nests near Natura 2000 areas and busy places, such as sports fields and playgrounds, are still removed by the province.
“It is a European duty to combat the Asian hornet,” says Ko Veltman, beekeeper and coordinator of the Asian hornets Amsterdam task group. “The province says complete eradication is no longer possible, but I think with more time and energy we can detect even more nests.”
The beekeeper is very concerned about the rapid spread of the invasive exotic species. “Last year we removed eight nests in Amsterdam. This year, seventeen nests have already been reported.” New queens emerge from each nest, each of which starts a new nest. “Next year I expect thirty or forty nests. The following year perhaps a hundred. I’m really afraid that it will soon be out of control.”
Danger to biodiversity
Asian hornets are not originally found in the Netherlands and pose a major threat to biodiversity. Every year, one nest eats up to eleven kilos of insects, with honey bees in particular being easy prey. Birds and other insectivores therefore have difficulty finding enough food, which has consequences for the entire food chain.
It is not only biodiversity that is at risk. Veltman believes that it is often wrongly claimed that the Asian hornet is harmless to humans. “A child dies after five stings and an adult dies after twelve stings. There are really going to be victims, because we are very lax.”
Marianne Meijboom, biodiversity policy advisor and Asian hornet at the Dutch Beekeepers’ Association, shares that fear. “There are already examples of deaths in France, but people have also ended up in hospital in the Netherlands,” says Meijboom. “A nest high in the tree can’t do much harm, but hornets are very defensive and attack when they feel threatened. A nest in the hedge then becomes a problem.”
Hoornaar must be combated more actively
According to the policy advisor, in order to effectively combat the pest, it is important that the agencies involved work together better and are managed nationally. “More money and attention is needed for monitoring incidents, developing more effective pesticides and conducting research into the actual impact on biodiversity.”
In addition, campaigns should help recognize nests. “Only the queens survive the winter. They start a new, smaller nest in the spring,” Meijboom explains. “These nests are then easy to remove; I can do that myself if necessary.”
A national approach should not take long. Earlier this year, the province of Limburg led North Holland in simplifying control measures. Meijboom: “We won’t see the real consequences until next year, but beekeepers are already suffering more than before that new policy.”
Until then, Ko Veltman and fellow beekeepers will continue to do their best to locate nests. “We are all nature people. We all benefit from protecting the bees.”