What can we expect by season?
Asian hornet throughout the year.
January – February
The queens hibernate
The cold days spontaneously render the nest of the Asian hornet inactive. The fertilised queens begin their hibernation while the nest dies. The nest remains suspended until it falls to the ground due to the wind. Old nests are no longer reused, as Asian hornets create a new colony each year.
March – April
Spring traps to catch the queens (period early March – late May)
Insects larger than the Asian hornet cannot normally enter these traps. Insects smaller than the Asian hornet cannot drown and escape the trap. As a result, these traps are considered selective.
The first embryonic nests in spring
The first embryonic nests of Asian hornets are now found in a sheltered location, such as under a roof or in a cage. The paper nests are the size of a small ping-pong ball and are inhabited by a queen. You can also see cells filled with larvae. These larvae are the future workers.
Late April – May – June
The first main nests
The primary nests of Asian hornets are now found in a sheltered location, such as under a roof or in a birdhouse. The paper nest is the size of a small football. This place is inhabited by both the queen and the workers, who are responsible for the ins and outs of the nest. So be very careful when trimming your hedges and check your shed. First, listen carefully to ensure you do not hear any buzzing and that you do not see any hornets flying.
July – August
Two types of nests
Currently, you may encounter two different nests of Asian hornets, namely the primary nest and the secondary nest. Hornets generally leave their small primary nest low down and move to a larger secondary nest that is usually found higher up, for example in the treetops. When you come across a primary nest, it is best to look for the secondary nest that hangs higher up.
September
Secondary nests and pressure on hives increase
The secondary nests of the Asian hornet are visibly larger. There are many more active workers searching for food such as proteins. They can find these in bees, which puts greater pressure on the hives. Unfortunately, no ideal solution has been found to protect the hives to date. It is therefore recommended to take various measures, such as installing an electric harp.
CHowever, today there are only a few late flowers such as ivy, vine, and fig trees, and one can often spot numerous hornets on the flowers or fruits of such shrubs or trees. These hornets are searching for food, which they find through the nectar of the flowers. In autumn, in the coming autumn, there are not many plants in bloom. This is why you see many hornets on the trees or shrubs still in flower. When you see them searching for food there, it does not immediately mean that they also have a nest nearby. Hornets have a range of 2 km. Thus, when you encounter an individual hornet, the nest may be located within a 2 km radius of the spot where you spotted it.
October – November – December
The mating period of the hornet
When you knock on the door of an Asian hornet nest, you may encounter both the queen, the workers (female hornets), and the drones (male hornets). Mating occurs at this time of year. Once the queens are fertilised, they leave the nest and prepare to enter hibernation.
The falling leaves reveal hornet nests in the trees
The falling leaves make the nests of the Asian hornet more visible.
The queens prepare to enter hibernation
When mating is complete and the temperature drops, the queens prepare to enter hibernation. During the winter months, the nests become spontaneously inactive.