Asian hornet: recognising the insect and its nest
A bee hunter from Asia whose nest is defended as a group: report it, don't go near it.
The short answer
The yellow-legged Asian hornet (Vespa velutina nigrithorax) was first reported in France in 2004, in Lot-et-Garonne; it is now present in every department of mainland France. It is recognised by its dark body, broad orange band and yellow leg tips. Don't approach a nest: destroying it is a job for an equipped professional.
Identity card
Scientific name: Vespa velutina nigrithorax
- Size
- About 2.5–3 cm for a worker; up to 3.5 cm for the founding queen
- Appearance
- Velvety brown-black body, broad orange band on the abdomen, orange face, yellow leg tips
- Life expectancy
- A few weeks for a worker; about a year for the queen
- Active period
- Spring to late autumn; the colony is at its largest in late summer and early autumn
- Where it hides
- Treetops, hedges, eaves, garden sheds, lofts, sometimes low bushes
How to spot Asian hornets
Tick off in your head what you have seen: the more the clues overlap, the surer the diagnosis.
- A large brown-beige paper nest, round or pear-shaped, with a small entrance on the side.
- In spring, a small fist-sized primary nest under a porch roof, a ledge or in a shed.
- Dark hornets hovering on patrol in front of hives or over flower beds.
- Yellow leg tips; the European hornet has a largely yellow abdomen and brown legs.
Understanding how it behaves
Its spread has been monitored from the start by France's National Museum of Natural History (MNHN). An opportunistic hunter, it catches large numbers of honeybees, around 40% of its diet on average, as well as flies and wasps. It is often seen hovering in front of hives.
Its life cycle lasts one year. In spring, a founding queen emerging from hibernation builds a primary nest on her own, about the size of a fist, in a sheltered spot: under a porch roof, in a garden shed, in a hedge. In summer the colony often builds a much larger secondary nest, frequently high in a tree. In autumn the future queens leave to overwinter; the colony dies and the empty nest is never used again.
The French government has launched a national plan against the Asian hornet. Depending on your town, help with nest destruction may be available: ask at the town hall before the visit.
Why it shouldn't be left
- Group attacks if the nest is knocked, shaken or approached too closely: workers defend it collectively.
- Severe allergic reaction possible, even after a single sting; multiple stings are dangerous for everyone.
- According to ANSES, 38% of the serious envenomations recorded by French poison centres between 2014 and 2023 were caused by hornets, all species combined.
- Predation on bees and weakened apiaries.
- Nests discovered by surprise while trimming a hedge or pruning a tree.
What the technician does: asian hornets
01
Inspect
The nest is located and identified from a distance, its height and access assessed, the equipment chosen and a safety perimeter set up.
02
Treat
An authorised insecticide injected into the heart of the nest, with a telescopic pole if needed, preferably once the workers are back inside, in full protective clothing.
03
Sanitise
The nest taken down when it can be reached, instructions for those nearby (children, pets, neighbours) and advice on spotting primary nests the following spring.
04
Follow up
Check that activity has stopped as set out in the protocol, photo report and active vigilance on your property the following season.
Prevention, at home and at work
Simple habits that lower the risk of the intruder settling in or coming back.
- 01At home: inspect porch roofs, sheds and hedges from April to June for a possible primary nest.
- 02Before trimming a hedge or pruning, watch insect comings and goings for a few minutes.
- 03Keep at least 5 metres between you and a nest; don't hit it, hose it or throw anything at it.
- 04Skip syrup-filled bottle traps: they mostly catch useful insects.
- 05In a business, apartment building or public venue: report any nest to the manager and cordon off the area until the visit.
Your questions
Is its sting more venomous than the European hornet's?
A single sting is no more dangerous. The risk comes from the collective defence of the nest: if you get close or disturb it, many hornets can sting at once. An allergy remains possible from the very first sting.
Can I deal with it on my own?
It is not advisable. The nest is often high up and reacts to the slightest knock. A professional has full protective clothing, poles and authorised products, and assesses whether the job can be done without putting others at risk.
What should I do if I find a nest?
Move away calmly, keep children and pets at a distance and note where it is. You can report the nest on the MNHN platform dedicated to the Asian hornet, ask the town hall about possible help, then request its destruction.
Will the nest be occupied again next year?
No. The colony dies in winter and only the future queens survive, elsewhere. An empty nest can be left in place, but a new founding queen may settle nearby in spring.
Asian hornets at home or on your premises?
2-hour slot, 7 days a week from 8 am to 8 pm, price shown and paid online, photo report emailed on the day of the visit.
Related service: Wasp and hornet nest removal
