FAQ

Frequently asked questions

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Can I report a nest located in Brussels, Wallonia, or the Netherlands?

This Vespa-Watch platform only monitors nests in Flanders, so it does not cover nests located in Brussels, Wallonia, or the Netherlands. If you have a nest to report in:

I have observed a nest. What can I do?

Currently, summer nests of the Asian hornet are observed both low to the ground and at high altitudes (up to 30 metres or more). These nests can reach a size of 1 metre in autumn.

When the nest is low to the ground, try to take a clear photo of the nest where the wasp is also visible. Several species of wasps build similar nests low to the ground, then a photo of the wasp is needed for validation. Do always keep 5 m away from a nest. You can then report this nest on vespawatch.be via deze link.

In case of urgent pest control, it’s best to contact a private pest controller of the fire brigade.

I have observed a wasp. Whan can I do ?

Currently, reports of individual Asian hornets are being monitored through waarnemingen.be. You can do this without registration via this link.

You can also report your observation using the ObsIdentify app. Here (Dutch) you can find more information and a link to the app. Go to de App Store or GooglePlay and download the updated ObsIdentify-app. In this webinar (Dutch) or this blog (French), you will find step-by-step instructions on how to use the app.

We advise against capturing or killing Asian hornet queens to prevent confusion with native species or accidental trapping in a trap. Therefore, you should not take any further action. However, you can remain vigilant for potential primary nests in and around your house. These nests have a paper envelope and are about the size of a tennis or volleyball. If you find an embryonic nest, you can always report it to us. Preferably with a photo showing the wasp that built the nest, as different wasp species often build similar types of embryonic nests during this time of the year.

How does an Asian hornet nest look in the spring?

In the spring, you can observe two types of nests.

On one hand, you may come across a nest high in the treetops. This is a remnant of a nest from the previous year. However, there is no need for extermination because the nest is unoccupied and won’t be reused the following year. It’s still useful to report these nests via this page because we use your reports for species monitoring.

On the other hand, in the spring, you can find embryonic nests in a sheltered location close to the ground (less than 4 meters high). These nests have a paper envelope and are about the size of a ping-pong ball. These embryonic nests are constructed in the spring by a queen. Therefore, there is only one wasp present in these nests. You will also find several combs in these nests with larvae.

What does an Asian hornet nest look like in the summer?

After the first larvae have hatched, there are not only queens but also workers present in the nest. From then on, the further expansion of the nest happens very quickly because the queen receives assistance from the workers. This is referred to as a primary nest.

By mid-summer, 70% of these primary nests relocate to a new location, high in a tree (more than 10 meters). In this case, we call it a secondary nest.

I see many hornets in/on my bush and suspect a nest, but don’t see the nest. What can I do?

Possibly, the hornets are attracted to the nectar of the flowers. In autumn, there are not many flowering plants present. As a result, Asian hornets sometimes flock to a single shrub such as ivy. This ensures that seeing a high number of hornets on ivy or another shrub does not mean there is a nest in the shrub. A hornet moves up to 2 km from its nest to gather food. So a nest is nearby. In the fall, a nest is very large (up to 1 meter in diameter) and has a paper shell. Tips for locating a nest can be found here.

If you find a nest, you may always report it via this page. Any report of a nest is very valuable for monitoring the species.

Is a nest from the previous year reused?

No, a nest from the previous year is not reused. Therefore, extermination is not necessary. However, it’s still useful to report these nests via this page because we use your reports for species monitoring.

What happens with my report of a nest?

After reporting, you will receive a list of recognized Asian hornet exterminators in Flanders. We validate your report, which may take a few days. We will notify you if it is indeed an Asian hornet nest.

Do you perform extermination?

No, we are a reporting center for monitoring the Asian hornet, but we do not coordinate extermination ourselves. After reporting, you will always receive a list of recognized Asian hornet exterminators in Flanders, who have undergone specialized training to combat this species. In the case of urgent extermination, it is best to contact a private exterminator or the fire brigade immediately.

Is the extermination free ?

No, nest extermination is not free. The government does not reimburse eradication costs anymore.

I have seen a large wasp. Is this the Asian hornet?

No, because the European hornet is larger than the Asian hornet. The differences between these two species are further explained here. The European hornet is a native and beneficial species, and we recommend letting it live if there is no nuisance. In case of doubt about the species, always let every wasp go free! This prevents native species that are important for our biodiversity from being mistakenly killed.

I have observed a European hornet nest. What can I do?

The European hornet is a native and beneficial species. We recommend letting it live if there is no nuisance. In case of an immediate danger, it is best to contact a private exterminator to remove the nest.

There is a large wasp in my house. What should I do?

Try to identify the species of wasp using the ObsIdentify app by Natuurpunt. If it’s not an Asian hornet, you can release the wasp. More information about different wasp species and how to recognize them can be found here. In case of doubt about the species, always let every wasp go free! This prevents native species that are important for our biodiversity from being mistakenly killed.

I have caught a wasp in a jar. What should I do?

Try to identify the species of the wasp using the ObsIdentify app by Natuurpunt. If it’s not an Asian hornet, you can release the wasp. More information about different wasp species and how to recognize them can be found here. In case of doubt about the species, always let every wasp go free! This prevents native species that are important for our biodiversity from being mistakenly killed.

I’m interested in training to become an Asian hornet exterminator. Where can I get this training?

Specialized training for the removal of Asian hornet nests is offered by Inverde and the VBI.

From when is it useful to actively search for nests?

It is useful to actively search for nests from June. You can find information on how to locate nests here.

How can I locate Asian hornet nests?

You can find information on how to locate nests here.

Is it useful to capture queens with selective traps in the spring?

We advise against capturing or killing Asian hornet queens to prevent confusion with native species or accidental trapping in a trap. Therefore, you should not take any further action. However, you can remain vigilant for potential primary nests in and around your house. These nests have a paper envelope and are about the size of a tennis or volleyball. If you find an embryonic nest, you can always report it to us. Preferably with a photo showing the wasp that built the nest, as different wasp species often build similar types of embryonic nests during this time of the year.

What is the difference between a wick bait station and a selective trap?

In a regular wasp trap or non-selective trap, insects drown. We discourage the use of this type of trap in all circumstances because it kills many innocent insects that are valuable for biodiversity.

A selective trap also aims to catch insects but has openings and exits of different sizes. This allows insects larger than the Asian hornet to normally not enter the trap, and smaller insects can normally always exit the trap.

A selective trap is:

  • Placed in the spring to capture queens before they can build a nest.
  • Placed in the fall near beehives to reduce the number of hunting hornets near the hives.

We discourage the use of selective traps:

  • To prevent confusion with native species or accidental trapping of them.
  • Because the effectiveness of this method has not been proven at the population level.
  • This method may potentially do more harm than good to our biodiversity.

If you still decide to use a selective trap, it is important to use it correctly and release other captured species in a timely manner. Place the trap out of direct sunlight and ensure that the insects do not drown in the lure. For example, by applying the lure to a sponge inside the trap.

Wick bait station allow all insects to be released unharmed. You can find instructions on how to make them here. We hang the wick bait stations near a suspected nest to monitor them. We regularly check if they are visited by hornets. After observing an Asian hornet on the wick bait station, we tag it to determine flight direction and time. When you map these on a chart, you can narrow down the search area for the nest.