Asian hornets threatens biodiversity: experts warn of damage!

Asian hornets threatens biodiversity: experts warn of damage!

Wittenberg, Deutschland - Again and again they cause excitement: the Asian hornets (Vespa Velutina) have increasingly occurred in Germany in recent years. As the FAZ was recently reported in Schleswig-Holstein sighted. Asian hornets have been widespread in West Germany and is now classified as "established". This means that sightings are no longer subject to reporting and the capacities of the authorities to combat are limited. If you discover a nest, you should rather use experts, because the nests are often at a dangerous amount.

The Asian hornets feeds primarily on honeybees and can significantly impair their food intake. A problem that also presents the beekeepers with challenges because damage in beekeeping can occur. According to Dr. Manfred Verhaly, entomologist at the Karlsruhe Natural History Museum, has hardly any natural enemies and can therefore multiply unhindered. Pollers like honeybees are at risk, which means that the entire pollinator system can falter, which also threatens biodiversity in Germany, such as the ZDF has.

The threat of invasive species

In nature there are around 900 established neobiota species in Germany, which makes up for around 1% of the total species. The increase in invasive species, which is caused by global trade and traffic, is particularly worrying. The Federal Office for Nature Conservation shows that up to 42 animal and 46 plant species are on the EU list. This also includes the Asian hornets, which has gained a foothold since its first sighting in Germany in 2014, especially in the southwest, to North Rhine-Westphalia.

A big problem is that invasive types such as the Asian hornets often have no natural enemies in new habitats. This means that you can spread unstoppable. Your competitors for food, especially other insects and bee colonies, are at risk. In France, where similar problems are already known, a negative impact on the pollination of ivy flowers has been demonstrated.

Caution is required

A hornet sting is not more dangerous for people than that of a honey bee, but it can cause allergic reactions. Hornets have the ability to stab several times, in contrast to bees that lose their sting. They are not known as aggressively, but vehemently defend their nests and often move them into high trees. The attraction of sugar sources and sweet fruits does not make it easy to keep them away from your own property.

Asian hornets is an example of the challenges that invasive types for domestic nature. It is up to us to find paths, live with these types and at the same time ensure the protection of our biodiversity. This is a learning process that we, as a society, have to tackle more in the future.