Pests Asian hornet continues to spread in the Basel area

The Asian hornet has spread further in the Basel region, threatening local bee colonies. The health departments of the two cantons of Basel are calling on the population to help combat the pest, as they announced on Tuesday.

In the canton of Basel-Stadt, two pre-nests have been found so far this year and in the canton of Baselland, with five pre-nests, more than twice as many Asian hornets have already been found than in the previous year. The population is called upon to report such findings.

However, they should refrain from independently combating the nests, as the hornets will defend them vehemently.

The spread of the Asian hornet is problematic. They mainly hunt native honey bees, wild bees and wasps to feed their larvae. If the Asian hornet spreads widely in an area, it can lead to noticeable losses in bee colonies.