The Asian Hornet
An urgent ecological threat in Europe
Why one nest is one too many
Per secondary nest, each year:
11.3 kg
Insects
1.400
Species
45.000
Honey bees
3.000-8.000
Hornets are born
25-50
Fertilized queens survive the winter,
and repeat the cycle
2004
2010
2011
2012
2014
2016
2017
2018
2020
2023
2024
Frankrijk
Spanje
Portugal
Italië
Duitsland
België, de UK
Nederland
Malloraca
Zwitserland, Luxemburg
Hongarije
Oostenrijk, Slovakije
De verspreiding in Europa sinds 2024
In 2004 bereikte één Aziatische
hoornaarkoningin Zuidwest-Frankrijk,
verborgen in een lading uit China.
Enkele jaren later had de soort zich al
over Europa verspreid, met zware impact
op bijen en biodiversiteit.
Vandaag is de Aziatische hoornaar
aanwezig in meer dan 13 landen — en
blijft hij zich verder uitbreiden.
France
There are an estimated >=500,000 nests, with an estimated economic impact of €30.8 million per year due to loss of bee colonies, pollination, and honey production.
Additionally, about €12 million of public funds is spent annually on locating and destroying nests.
Portugal
Up to 5 nests per km² have been recorded, with up to 50% loss of beehives and a 35% decline in honey production.
Wine and fruit production are also heavily affected, as ripening fruit in vineyards and orchards is damaged (with up to 75% damage to grapes).
Belgium
The number of nests quintupled in 2023 and is expected to exceed 10,000 in Flanders alone by 2025.
Around 11% of Belgian agriculture, representing €250 million per year, depends on pollination — rising to up to 64% in the fruit sector.
In Belgium, Flanders - number of reported nests
Number per municipality in 2025
Number per province, per year since 2017
Why a scalable solution is urgently needed
Pollinators and honey bees are the backbone of our agriculture.
They account for about 80% of all pollination and support more than a third of our global food production. Each bee visits up to 5,000 flowers a day, contributing to the production of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds — while producing barely 1/12 of a teaspoon of honey in its entire lifetime.
But this essential work is increasingly coming under pressure.
The presence of the Asian hornet causes 'foraging paralysis', causing bees to retreat into their hive and stop collecting nectar and pollen — with serious consequences for their survival in winter. Additionally, one Asian hornet can catch and eat up to 50 bees per day. One nest is estimated to destroy 45,000 honeybees — resulting in up to 225 million lost pollination moments per day.
Multiply this by thousands of nests, and the impact becomes enormous — with direct consequences for biodiversity, agriculture, and food security.
JOIN OUR MISSION
We are not only focusing on the Asian hornet — we are setting a new standard.
Our modular digital solution is ready for the challenges of tomorrow.
