Overview
- A city beekeeper in Kassel captured an Asian hornet on a terrace in Harleshausen, confirming the species has reached the city.
- In NRW, reports are increasing in the Rhineland and Ruhr region as the hornet hunts honeybees and wild bees at hive entrances and in flight.
- Pest-control leader Werner Steinheuser warned against improvised tactics like CO2 fire extinguishers or charcoal dust, calling them dangerous and ineffective.
- He said trained teams use approved agents to neutralize nests within hours, but he now views eradication as unrealistic in many areas.
- Beekeepers advise residents to report suspected nests to local conservation offices, noting colonies can reach 1,000 to 2,000 insects and may nest in trees or on buildings.