Bee Austria has set up a central reporting platform in a timely manner where sightings of nests and individual animals of the invasive Asian hornet can be reported.
Vienna, April 12, 2024 (OTS) – New invasive hornet species arrived in Austria
In 2004, the hornet species native to Central and East Asia Vespa velutina accidentally brought into France. It has caused great damage to bee colonies in many regions. But their occurrence is also becoming more and more problematic in fruit and wine growing. Today it has successfully spread across large parts of Europe. Since April 9, 2024, the first find has been confirmed in Austria.
Invasive alien species are one of the greatest threats to biodiversity and associated ecosystem services. The risks posed by such species may increase due to increasing global trade, transport, tourism and climate change.
According to Regulation (EU) 1143/2014 on dealing with alien species, Vespa velutina must also be combated. This Regulation lays down provisions for preventing, minimizing and mitigating the adverse effects of both the intentional and non-intentional introduction and spread of invasive alien species on biodiversity in the Union.
The Federal Ministry for Climate Protection, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology is responsible at the federal level. At the state level, the responsible departments of the state government offices.
Bee Austria’s control strategy presented
Bee Austria has been working intensively on the issue since 2023 and has presented a control concept. Through intensive contact, especially with French beekeeping colleges who have had practical experience in combating the Asian hornet for years, through a thematic focus at the conference of the Austrian Commercial Beekeepers Association in February 2024, as well as intensive exchange of ideas with experts from AGES, the Federal Environment Agency and the A holistic control concept was developed by Biene Austria in the federal states. The collaboration with the plant protection warning service of the LK Austria has proven particularly successful.
Central reporting platform set up
The main task of the beekeeping sector will be monitoring, i.e. reporting sightings of individual animals and nests. In order to display the sightings centrally for the whole of Austria and to be able to forward them to the respective federal state responsible for destroying the nests, Bee Austria has set up a central reporting platform. Beekeepers: inside, but also non-beekeepers: inside can register on the platform and report sightings there. Simply take a picture with your smartphone, upload it to the platform and locate the location on a map. These reports are evaluated by experts. Is this actually the case? Vespa velutinaa report is sent to the responsible state authority.
The reporting platform is at: velutinamelden.at or velutina-melden.at to reach
Beekeeping industry has done homework
“We prepared well in advance for the arrival of the Asian hornet. The year 2023 was the focus of developing a feasible control strategy. We tried to learn from the mistakes made in combating the countries that have been dealing with the Asian hornet for a long time,” emphasizes Wolfgang Pointecker, chairman of Biene Austria. “We are well prepared and the beekeepers will also learn to deal with the Asian hornet. “As we have done so often, we will master the new challenge,” adds Reinhard Hetzenauer, deputy chairman of Biene Austria.
Questions & Contact:
Dipl. Ing. Christian Boigenzahn
Bee Austria
Georg-Coch Platz 3/11a, 1010 Vienna
+43 6767703157
office@biene-oesterreich.at
www.biene-oesterreich.at
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