Vespa-Watch project
About the project
Vespa-Watch monitors the invasion of the Asian hornet. We work with a wide audience and hobby beekeepers. Vespa-Watch is a project of:
It was initiated following the ‘Citizen Science’ call by the Department of Economy, Science, and Innovation on December 11, 2017.
Goals
Vespa-Watch maps the distribution of the Asian hornet and its management. We collect data with the help of beekeepers, nature volunteers, and the general public.
We use this data for:
- Monitoring and evaluating the species’ management
- Research into the distribution (speed, area, history, impact)
- Reporting to the European Regulation on Invasive Alien Species.
How do we monitor the spread of the Asian hornet?
We employ passive, broad detection
We collect observations from volunteers, beekeepers, and the general public through a well-known reporting point. We always verify these reports.
We use targeted, active detection
We are in close contact with people who have extensive knowledge of insects: beekeepers, firefighters, entomologists (scientists specializing in insects). The likelihood that they will spot an Asian hornet is high. They are looking specifically at beehives, when exterminating wasp nests and when mapping a nature reserve.
We register all actions for research and evaluation of management
This is mandatory under the ‘European Regulation for the prevention of the introduction and management of invasive alien species’.
Citizen Science involves the general public in nature research
Citizen Science has a long tradition in our country. The benefits:
- The broader public gets to know nature research.
- More people realize the importance of research.
- Awareness of ‘biological invasions’ grows across all layers of the population.
- People from all over Flanders participate.
- The data obtained is open and reliable.
Vespa-Watch works closely with the public. Our Vespa-Watch activities create a vibrant network of volunteers.
- In our ‘ivy blitzes’, volunteers search for Asian hornets on flowering ivy or snowberry in the autumn. Asian hornets come to these plants to look for bees.
- Our ‘hornet hunts’ are organized searches for nests.
Our partners
- INBO and Honeybee Valley lead the project.
- Support is provided by the Flemish Government (Department of Economy, Science, and Innovation).