The Asian hornet (Vespa velutina nigrithorax) is now officially present in every Belgian province. An invasive species, it seriously threatens honeybee colonies and poses a real risk to anyone attempting to destroy a nest without equipment.
Telling the Asian hornet apart from the European hornet
Vespa velutina (Asian): thorax entirely black or dark brown-black, dark abdomen with a single orange-yellow band on the fourth segment, yellow leg tips, 17–32 mm in size. Smaller than its European cousin.
Vespa crabro (European): reddish-brown thorax with yellow markings, largely yellow abdomen striped with brown, 18–35 mm in size. It mostly flies in the evening, unlike the Asian hornet, which stays active all day.
If you see hornets hovering in front of a hive or diving on bees in flight, it's the Asian hornet: that's its characteristic predatory behaviour. It mainly feeds on honeybees, threatening apiaries.
Nests: where they build
Primary nest (March–May): a small founding nest, often in an enclosed shelter (garage, garden shed, terrace corner, under a plant box). Light grey, papery texture, 5–10 cm across. The best time to intervene.
Secondary nest (June–November): the final nest can reach 60–80 cm in height, often high in treetops (10–15 m), roof frames, eaves or dense hedges. Locating and removing it is difficult and dangerous without the right equipment.
An Asian hornet nest in autumn can hold 6,000 to 15,000 individuals. Nests are abandoned after the first frosts, but never reused the following year.
Why not to destroy the nest yourself
The Asian hornet isn't particularly aggressive towards humans while hunting. However, it defends its nest with extreme aggression: disturbing it can trigger a mass response from the colony.
An Asian hornet sting is comparable in pain to a European hornet's, but the danger comes from numbers. Someone with anaphylaxis risk can go into allergic shock after a single sting. A non-allergic person exposed to 10+ simultaneous stings can develop serious symptoms.
Supermarket insecticide aerosols don't penetrate a mature 60 cm nest. Failed attempts irritate the colony without eliminating it: the most dangerous situation of all.
Mandatory reporting in Belgium
In Wallonia, every Asian hornet nest must be reported via the DEMNA portal (Department for the Study of the Natural and Agricultural Environment) or the Vespa-Watch app. Reporting allows the species' spread to be tracked and interventions organised.
In Flanders, reporting goes through waarnemingen.be and Vespa-Watch. Bruxelles Environnement handles reports for the Brussels Region.
Municipalities take care of nests on public land. For private property, professional intervention is needed, but some municipalities partially reimburse the cost.
The professional intervention
Destroying an Asian hornet nest requires full protective equipment and intervening at the right time of day, when nearly the entire colony is inside the nest.
For high nests (trees, roof frames), specialised equipment allows intervention from the ground up to several metres. Beyond that, a cherry picker is needed.
Antinox intervenes with full equipment and removes the nest in a single visit, with a treatment report. Response within 24h; a high nest requiring a cherry picker is scheduled based on access.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Asian hornet more dangerous to humans than the European hornet?
Not inherently. The venom is similar. The danger lies in the nest's defensive behaviour: a disturbed colony of 10,000 individuals can send out hundreds of guards simultaneously. The European hornet is generally less aggressive away from the nest.
Can I report it without being sure of the species?
Yes, and it's encouraged. Vespa-Watch platforms include validation by volunteer entomologists. Take photos from a distance with zoom — no need to get close. A photo of the thorax (black = Asian, reddish-brown = European) is enough for validation.
Do Belgian municipalities pay for nest removal?
It depends on the municipality. In Wallonia, several municipalities (notably in the provinces of Namur and Liège) offer partial or full reimbursement for nests on private property. Check with your local council before calling a professional — some have agreements with approved providers.
What should I do if I get stung?
Remove the stinger if visible, apply cold, watch for systemic reactions (widespread hives, facial swelling, breathing difficulty). In case of an allergic reaction or multiple stings: call 112 immediately. If you're known to be allergic to Hymenoptera venom, an auto-injectable epinephrine pen is the first emergency response.