Mandelbachtal, July 9, 2026
The Asian hornet has already firmly established itself in Saarland in recent years. After the species was first detected in Saarland in 2020, the Saarland Ministry of the Environment officially classified it as firmly established and widespread in 2025 due to its rapid spread.
For the population in Saarland, the sight of the insects has now become part of everyday life, which is reflected in the high number of reported observations. Favored by climate change, milder winters, and the absence of natural predators, the species was able to spread rapidly.
Hornets are naturally defensive. The Asian hornet also behaves accordingly calmly. The insects observe attentively and avoid direct contact with humans. Anyone who approaches the nest too closely or attacks the animals triggers their defense instinct. The Velutina Network Saar prescribes a safety distance of at least ten meters and explicitly warns against any attempts of control.
While Asian hornets initially hunt flies and wild bees inconspicuously in spring, they increasingly focus on honeybees in late summer. They besiege entire beehives. The animals can kill thousands of bees daily and destroy entire bee colonies. To protect local beekeeping and nature, interest groups and volunteers consistently track down the nests to eliminate them directly.
Due to the massive spread of the species, the reporting requirements in Saarland have been adjusted. Please do not report sightings of individual animals via the online reporting portal, but only observations of nests. A photo is required for the online report, which can be safely taken from a distance.
In spring, the animals build small nests in sheltered spots. In summer, they move their nesting site and construct large nests high up in the treetops.
Observations by the Velutina Network Saar have shown that native bird species are increasingly discovering hornets as a food source and can contribute to their natural control in the future. Until this biological regulation is established, the targeted removal of nests via the online portal remains the most effective protection for nature and beekeeping.
Every report helps: If you report a nest to support its removal or if there is a danger, please use the online reporting portal. After digital submission, the volunteer experts of the Velutina Network Saar will take care of removing the nest on site. This service is completely free for all citizens.
For quick and legally compliant processing, please use the official reporting portal at www.velutina-saar.de
