Overview
- Authorities report a sharp early‑season rise, with Hesse logging about 460 reports and NRW confirming nearly 2,000 sightings so far in 2026.
- Field teams target small primary nests that hold only the queen, because large secondary nests with thousands of hornets often form in trees from late June.
- NRW launched a €150,000 program to train beekeepers, fund protective gear and tools, and pay premiums for certified nest removals, though experts say the sum is likely too low.
- Germany reclassified the species as “widely spread” in March 2025, which means removals follow case‑by‑case reviews and many private owners now bear the cost.
- Cities such as Kassel ask residents to upload photo‑verified reports via the HLNUG and local portals, and they stress that only trained specialists should remove nests.