If bees only gathered nectar from perfect flowers, they wouldn't be able to make even a single drop of honey – Matshona Dhliwayo
- Status: Complete - ready for monthly updates
- Updated: 2025-11-08
- Klik hier voor de nederlandse versie.
This repository synthesizes evidence from 30 scientific studies to quantify the impact of Asian hornet (Vespa velutina) on domestic honeybee colonies (Apis mellifera) in Europe.
- Honeybee in diet: 22-98% depending on method and location — see details
- Per Vespa velutina colony consumption:
- 11.32 kg of insects per season
- 97,246 honeybee-equivalent per season
- Observed Vespa velutina counts at apiaries:
- 0-4: Low pressure (observed in studies)
- 5-9: Moderate pressure (minimum risk threshold: Diéguez-Antón et al. 2025)
- 10-12: High pressure (foraging decline observed: Monceau et al. 2018)
- ≥13: Very high pressure (foraging paralysis threshold: Requier et al. 2019)
- Peak periods: July-October (varies by location) — see details
- Predation success rate: 2.4% (video tracking of natural predation at hive entrance) — see details
- Without protection: 35-56% of colonies survive under high Vespa velutina pressure (Requier et al. 2020; Rojas-Nossa et al. 2022) — see details
- With protection (electric harps, muzzles): 55-78% survival (Requier et al. 2020; Rojas-Nossa et al. 2022) — see details
- Timing of colony losses:
- During predation period: 2.5% of colonies (Requier et al. 2019)
- During winter (January-May): Majority of losses occur (Requier et al. 2019)
- Risk threshold: ≥5 Vespa velutina at apiary (Diéguez-Antón et al. 2025) — see details
- Note: In Diéguez-Antón et al. 2025, thresholds refer to hornets counted simultaneously in a single hourly photograph (snapshot count per photo).
- Colony loss: is multifactoral, influence of Vespa velutina cannot be separated from other causes of colony loss — see details
- Foraging paralysis threshold: ≥12.6 Vespa velutina present (Requier et al. 2019) — see details
- Note: In Requier et al. 2019, hornets were counted as the maximum number hovering simultaneously in front of beehive during 15-minute visual observation periods (to avoid counting the same hornet more than once).
- Foraging decline threshold: >10 Vespa velutina per hive (Monceau et al. 2018)
- Note: In Monceau et al. 2018, hornets were counted as the maximum number visible simultaneously in video frame during first 5 minutes of each hour (to avoid pseudo-replication).
- Activity reduction with protection: Up to 41% reduction in foraging paralysis (Requier et al. 2020) — see details
- Defensive behavior effectiveness (Apis mellifera):
- Natural conditions (outside hive): 9.5% of Vespa velutina killed by balling (Arca et al. 2014)
- Experimental conditions (inside hive): 76.4% killed (Arca et al. 2014)
- Note: Vespa velutina do not naturally enter hives; this was experimental — see details
- Consequence: Foraging paralysis leads to colony starvation and winter mortality (Requier et al. 2019) — see details
- Data source: InvaCost database — see details
- The InvaCost database provides a comprehensive global repository of economic costs of invasive alien species, including Vespa velutina. Data can be accessed via the website, GitHub repository, or R package for analysis.
| Metric | Threshold/Observation | Study | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum risk | ≥5 Vespa velutina at apiary | Diéguez-Antón et al. 2025 | Colony survival risk (per hourly photo) |
| High risk | ≥10 Vespa velutina at apiary | Diéguez-Antón et al. 2025 | Colony survival risk (per hourly photo) |
| Foraging decline | >10 Vespa velutina per hive | Monceau et al. 2018 | Bee behavior (per video frame, first 5 min/hour) |
| Foraging paralysis | ≥12.6 Vespa velutina | Requier et al. 2019 | Complete foraging stop (per 15-min visual observation) |
| Peak predation period | July-October | Multiple | Seasonal pattern |
| Peak daily activity | 13:00-15:00 h | Multiple | Time of day |
| Optimal temperature | 15-26°C | Diéguez-Antón et al. 2022, 2025 | Vespa velutina activity |
| Colony survival (unprotected) | 35-56% | Requier et al. 2020; Rojas-Nossa et al. 2022 | High pressure conditions |
| Colony survival (protected) | 55-78% | Requier et al. 2020; Rojas-Nossa et al. 2022 | With protection measures |
- Summary
- 1. Literature searches
- 2. Phase I screening
- 3 Phase II screening
- 4 Data Extraction
- Policy Reports
- References
Nearly a quarter century has passed since Vespa velutina arrived by accident in Europe. And this Asian hornet (Vespa velutina) with its yellow legs is using her wings to spread over a large part of Europe. Adult workers need protein-rich prey to feed the developing larvae in their nests, which they obtain primarily from insects. They don't make it difficult for themselves—in Europe domesticated bees (Apis mellifera) are widely available and easy to catch. So, let's find out what is published about the potential impact of the yellow-legged hornet (Vespa velutina) on Western honeybee (Apis mellifera) populations.
Population: Apis mellifera colonies in Europe
Comparison: Colonies without Vespa velutina predation/presence
Outcome: Impact measures including:
- Apis mellifera Predation rates
- Apis mellifera Colony loss
- Apis mellifera behavior changes
- Economic impact of Vespa velutina on Apis mellifera
Limitations
- Studies on the impact of Vespa velutina on Apis mellifera aren't perfect flowers
- High methodological heterogeneity
- Inconsistent outcome measures
- Lack of explicit control groups
- Not all PDF's and databases are free online available
Updated: 2025-10-30
- Vespa velutina: ("vespa velutina" OR "asian hornet" OR "yellow-legged hornet")
- AND
- Apis mellifera: ("apis mellifera" OR honeybee* OR "honey bee*" OR beekeep* OR apiary* OR "managed pollinator*" OR "bee colony" OR "bee colonies")
- AND (Europe OR European OR Austria OR Austrian OR Belgium OR Belgian OR Bulgaria OR Bulgarian OR Croatia OR Croatian OR Cyprus OR Cypriot OR Czech OR "Czech Republic" OR "Czechia" OR Denmark OR Danish OR Estonia OR Estonian OR Finland OR Finnish OR France OR French OR Germany OR German OR Greece OR Greek OR Hungary OR Hungarian OR Ireland OR Irish OR Italy OR Italian OR Latvia OR Latvian OR Lithuania OR Lithuanian OR Luxembourg OR Luxembourgish OR Malta OR Maltese OR Netherlands OR Dutch OR Poland OR Polish OR Portugal OR Portuguese OR Romania OR Romanian OR Slovakia OR Slovak OR Slovenia OR Slovenian OR Spain OR Spanish OR Sweden OR Swedish OR "United Kingdom" OR Britain OR British OR England OR Scotland OR Wales OR "Northern Ireland")
Only open access databases were used.
- Last accessed: 2025-10-30
- 767 records
- Last accessed: 2025-10-30
- 67 articles
- 5 preprints
- Last accessed: 2025-10-30
- 56 articles
Google Scholar is used to screen for additional articles or relevant gray literature after the initial literature search.
- Last accessed: 2025-10-30
- 2.160 records (sorted for relevance)
- 168 records (sorted for date)
- Initial search 2025-10-30: 56 references
- Imported references: 915
- Duplications detected: 347
- Unique references for phase I screening: 612
ASReview LAB screening based on title and abstract
- Language is English, Dutch, or German
- Contains predation data and/or secondary effect data
- Study type is observational or experimental with field component
- No Apis mellifera data
- No Vespa velutina data
- Non-European location
- Not English, Dutch, or German language
- Simulation studies, models, prediction, laboratory conditions
- Reviews (check for missed articles with citation chaser)
- Gray literature
- Only nest removal methods (no impact data)
- Duplicate (data) of already included study
- Free online: 32
- Free pre-print: 1
- PDF requested 2025-11-01: 1
pdf_phaseI.csvcontains the list with the included articles for phase II screening
Screening based on full text and supplemental material (if available). _update_phase_II.md is used to instruct Cursor.AI to extract the quantitative items from the PDFs. First inclusion and exclusion criteria are extracted, subsequent additional quantifiable data are extracted. Short notes were allowed. The results are saved in a .md file with a similar name as the PDF. Then they were manually checked, corrected, and additional relevant information was added.
- Apis_mellifera_predation
- Other_species_predation
- Colony_loss
- Foraging_activity
- Other_behavior_changes
- Honey_yield
- Economic_loss
- Management_costs
- Editorial: 1
- Review_ or _meta-analysis: 3
- No_quantifiable-data: 0
- Gray_literature: 0
- PDF_not_available: 1
- No original data (article based on invacost): 1
_pdf_phase_II.csv contains the master dataset with all included articles for phase II screening and data extraction. This CSV file serves as the primary data source for all quantitative analyses.
Quantitative data extracted from 34 studies (30 included, 4 excluded) on the impact of Vespa velutina on Apis mellifera in Europe.
Master Dataset: 3_phase_II/_pdf_phase_II.csv contains all extracted quantitative data, study characteristics, inclusion/exclusion criteria, and outcome measures.
Draft data extraction of the quantitative data for each PDF is done with Cursor.ai and checked manually.
Key Metrics Summary
| Metric | Value | Study | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall predation success rate | 2.4% | Poidatz et al. 2023 | France |
| Success rate (bees entering hive) | 69.46% | Poidatz et al. 2023 | France |
| Success rate (bees leaving hive) | 15.27% | Poidatz et al. 2023 | France |
| Peak success (Vespa velutina number) | ~8 Vespa velutina | Poidatz et al. 2023 | France |
| Attack success rate | 25% | Perrard et al. 2009 | France |
| Maximum captures (Vespa velutina number) | 9 Vespa velutina | Monceau et al. 2013 | France |
Detailed Findings
Poidatz et al. 2023 (France)
- Overall predation success: 2.4% (126 successful events out of 5,175 interactions)
- Success rate for bees entering hive: 69.46% (4× higher than bees leaving)
- Success rate for bees leaving hive: 15.27%
- Peak success occurs at ~8 Vespa velutina, then decreases
- Sample: 5,175 predator-prey interactions from 603,259 trajectories
Perrard et al. 2009 (France, 2007)
- Attack success rate: 25% (average 4 trials necessary to catch one honeybee)
- Honeybee predation rate (captive colony): 37.5 honeybees/day (range: 25-50)
- Sample: 359 attacks observed, 1 captive colony
Monceau et al. 2013 (France, 2008-2009)
- Maximum captures at 9 Vespa velutina per hive
- Peak capture time: 13:00-14:00 h (midday)
- Vespa velutina trapped:
- ART site: 916 individuals (14 hives), peak: 106 on 12 Nov 2008
- VIL site: 1,894 individuals (9 hives), peak: 217 on 12 Nov 2008
- Predation duration: 5 months
- Delay to predation increase: ~44 days from first capture
- Sample: 23 hives across 2 sites
Monceau et al. 2014 (France, 2011)
- Vespa velutina visiting daily: ~350 individuals (6 hives)
- Maximum Vespa velutina at single hive: 20 individuals simultaneously
- Recapture rate: 56.67% overall (204/360 marked), 73.94% on D1 morning
- Daily visits per half-day: 1.88 visits (range: 1.70-2.20)
- Sample: 360 marked Vespa velutina, 6 hives
Rome et al. 2021 (France, 2008-2010)
- Peak predation timing: Early October
- Peak predation time of day: Midday
- Sample: 16 nests
Diéguez-Antón et al. 2025 (Spain, 2021-2022)
- Total Vespa velutina counted: 11,406 individuals across all apiaries (6 colonies)
- Predation pressure duration: Up to 11 months (Apiary 3, both years)
- Sample: 3 apiaries, 6 colonies
Key Metrics Summary
| Metric | Value Range | Method | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apis mellifera in diet | 22.55% - 98.1% | Various | Multiple |
| Apis mellifera found in all nests | 100% | Metabarcoding | Pedersen et al. 2025 |
| Prey consumption per Vespa velutina colony | 97,246 honeybee-equivalent/season | Pellet analysis | Rome et al. 2021 |
| Biomass consumption per Vespa velutina colony | 11.32 kg/season | Pellet analysis | Rome et al. 2021 |
| Proportion hive production consumed | 40% | Pellet analysis | Rome et al. 2021 |
Detailed Findings
Rome et al. 2021 (France, 2008-2010, 16 nests, pellet collection)
- Apis mellifera in prey pellets: 38.1% (820/2,151 pellets)
- Prey consumption per Vespa velutina colony: 97,246 honeybee-equivalent per season
- Biomass consumption per Vespa velutina colony: 11.32 kg of insects per season
- Proportion of hive production consumed: ~40% (one Vespa velutina colony consumes ~40% of individuals produced by one hive)
- Wild bees proportion: 0.02% (bumblebees and solitary bees, excluding wild honeybee colonies)
Pedersen et al. 2025 (Multiple countries, 2020-2022, 103 nests, larval gut contents)
- Apis mellifera prevalence: 98.1% average (found in every nest)
- Apis mellifera found in all nests: 100%
- Top 50 prey species: 43 were potential pollinators
- Crop pollinators: 3 most dominant European crop pollinators identified
Perrard et al. 2009 (France, 2007, pellet analysis)
- Apis mellifera in pellets: 84.8% (145/171 flesh pellets)
Herrera et al. 2025 (Spain, Mallorca, 2016, 7 nests, meconium analysis)
- Apis mellifera in diet: 22.55% of Apidae family
- Range across nests: 14.86-29.27%
- Shared OTU: Yes (found across all nests)
Verdasca et al. 2022 (Portugal, 2018, 12 nests, metabarcoding)
- Honeybee reads:
- Total: 75% (79,143/108,979 reads)
- Faecal pellets: 84% (50,549/60,518 reads)
- Jaws: 74% (20,458/27,546 reads)
- Stomachs: 39% (8,136/20,915 reads)
- Detection rates:
- Faecal pellets: 100% (all replicates)
- Jaws: 70%
- Stomachs: 40%
- DNA persistence in faecal pellets: ≥28 days (maximum known period)
Stainton et al. 2023 (UK, 2016-2020, 5 nests, larval gut contents)
- Honeybee detection rate: 65.8% (25/38 larvae)
- Detection by nest: 80% (4/5 nests)
- Honeybee reads by location:
- Jersey (2019): 20.5% (9 samples)
- Tetbury (2016): 0.33% (10 samples)
- Woolacombe (2017): 7.3% (10 samples)
Key Metrics Summary
| Metric | Value | Study | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protected colony survival | 77.8% | Rojas-Nossa et al. 2022 | Spain |
| Muzzle-equipped survival | 55% | Requier et al. 2020 | France |
| Unprotected colony survival | 55.6% | Rojas-Nossa et al. 2022 | Spain |
| Control survival (no protection) | 35% | Requier et al. 2020 | France |
| Colony collapse rate | 55.3% | Requier et al. 2019 | France |
Detailed Findings
Requier et al. 2020 (France, 2013-2016, BEEHAVE model simulations)
- Muzzle-equipped survival: 55% (100 simulations)
- Control survival: 35% (100 simulations)
- Survival increase with protection: Up to 51% in context of high Vespa velutina abundance (>5 Vespa velutina)
- Low Vespa velutina loads (<5): Muzzle survival marginally lower than control
- High Vespa velutina loads (>5): Muzzle significantly increases survival probability
Rojas-Nossa et al. 2022 (Spain, 2018-2020, electric harp protection)
- Protected colony survival: 77.8%
- Unprotected colony survival: 55.6%
- Honeybee weight reduction (unprotected): 6.7% lighter workers
Requier et al. 2019 (France, 2012-2016, BEEHAVE model simulations, 993 simulations)
- Colony collapse rate: 55.3% (549/993 reached endpoint)
- Collapse during predation period: 2.5% (24 colonies)
- Collapse during winter: January 13 - May 1
Field Observations
- Diéguez-Antón et al. 2022 (Spain, 2020-2021): 1 colony died out of 2 monitored
- Monceau et al. 2018 (France, 2009): Both monitored colonies died (H1 before winter, H2 later in winter)
Risk Thresholds
| Threshold | Risk Level | Study | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| ≥5 Vespa velutina | Minimum risk | Diéguez-Antón et al. 2025 | Spain |
| ≥10 Vespa velutina | High risk | Diéguez-Antón et al. 2025 | Spain |
Note: In Diéguez-Antón et al. 2025, thresholds refer to hornets counted simultaneously in a single hourly photograph (snapshot count per photo), not daily totals or averages.
Winter Mortality Profiles (Requier et al. 2019, France, 2012-2016, BEEHAVE simulations)
-
Profile A (n=27): 100% mortality
- Larvae population <5 individuals
- Changes: Larvae decreased, adult population increased (+4,874), honey reserves decreased (-26.8 kg)
-
Profile B (n=288): 80.5-96.8% mortality
- Larvae >5, adult population <9,950
- Changes: Larvae decreased, adult population decreased (-19,732), honey reserves increased (+12.3 kg)
-
Profile C (n=66): 100% mortality
- Larvae >5, adult >9,950, honey reserve ≤21 kg
- Changes: Intermediary population and reserve trajectories
Pan-European Mortality (Jacques et al. 2017, EPILOBEE, 17 countries, 2012-2014)
Year 1 (2,332 apiaries):
- Winter mortality range: 5.01% (Italy) to 31.73% (Belgium)
- Seasonal mortality range: 0.09% (Lithuania) to 9.63% (France)
Year 2 (2,426 apiaries):
- Winter mortality range: 2.16% (Lithuania) to 13.85% (Belgium)
- Seasonal mortality range: 0.16% (Lithuania) to 8.06% (France)
Beekeeper Type Comparison:
- Hobby beekeepers: 14.04% winter mortality
- Professional beekeepers: 8.11% winter mortality
- Hobby beekeepers had double the winter mortality
High Pressure Events (Diéguez-Antón et al. 2025, Spain, 2021-2022)
- Apiary 1 (October 2021): 31 events with >5 Vespa velutina, 5 days with >10 Vespa velutina
- Apiary 2 (August 2021): 20 days with ≥5 Vespa velutina, up to 37 times per day
Key Thresholds Summary
| Threshold | Value | Study | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Complete foraging paralysis | ≥12.6 Vespa velutina | Requier et al. 2019 | France |
| Foraging decline | >10 Vespa velutina | Monceau et al. 2018 | France |
| Foraging paralysis (HRH) | >0.8 Vespa velutina/hive/10min | Rojas-Nossa et al. 2022 | Spain |
Detailed Findings
Requier et al. 2019 (France, 2012-2016, 131 colonies, 603 observations)
- Foraging paralysis threshold: ≥12.6 Vespa velutina (95% CI) for complete FP
- Statistical effect: Z=-20.65, P<0.001 (negative impact on flight activity)
- Peak period: August 28 - November 6 (Vespa velutina >5 only during this period)
- Counting method (visual surveys): Maximum number of hornets hovering simultaneously in front of beehive during first 15 minutes of 17-minute observation periods (observer at 3-5 m distance)
- Video surveillance: Stereovision camera tracking trajectories; predation events manually reviewed twice; 15-min analysis slots
Requier et al. 2020 (France, 2013-2016, 44 colonies, muzzle protection study)
- Foraging paralysis reduction with muzzle: Up to 41%
- Activity levels:
- Muzzle (0 Vespa velutina): 84% of baseline
- Muzzle (20 Vespa velutina): 76% of baseline (16-24% FP)
- Control (0 Vespa velutina): 100% of baseline
- Control (20 Vespa velutina): 35% of baseline (0-65% FP)
- Control max FP: Up to 76% (95% CI prediction)
Monceau et al. 2018 (France, 2009, 2 hives)
- Foraging decline threshold: >10 Vespa velutina per hive (number of foragers drops above this)
- Counting method: Maximum number of hornets visible simultaneously in video frame during first 5 minutes of each hour (to avoid pseudo-replication)
Rojas-Nossa et al. 2022 (Spain, 2018-2020)
- Foraging paralysis threshold: >0.8 Vespa velutina/hive/10min (HRH)
Diéguez-Antón et al. 2025 (Spain, 2021-2022, 6 colonies)
- Foraging paralysis observed: Yes (when Vespa velutina pressure is high)
Defensive Behaviors
Arca et al. 2014 (France, 2008-2010, 95 colonies, simulated attacks)
- Colony activity: Dramatic drop when Vespa velutina present
- Bee-carpet formation:
- 30-60% increase: 14 colonies
- 60-80% increase: 17 colonies
-
80% increase: 48 colonies
- Patterns: 42% large gathering, 20% coordinated behavior, 38% no coordination
- Balling behavior (Apis mellifera):
- Occurrence: 68 colonies (72%) exhibited balling
- Ball size distribution:
- <10 bees: 31 colonies (33%)
- 10-20 bees: 20 colonies (21%)
- 20-30 bees: 15 colonies (16%)
-
30 bees: 1 colony (1%)
- Effectiveness:
- Outside hive (natural conditions): 9.5% Vespa velutina killed by balling in 5 min
- Inside hive (experimental conditions): 76.4% Vespa velutina killed (42/55) — Note: Vespa velutina do not naturally enter hives; this was experimental
- Vespa velutina hovering distance: ~15 cm from hive entrance
Monceau et al. 2018 (France, 2009, 2 hives)
- Bee-carpet maximum: Late August-early September at 7 Vespa velutina
- Honeybees tracking Vespa velutina: H1: 21 instances, H2: 46 instances
- Balling occurrences: H1: 2 occurrences, H2: 1 occurrence
Flight Performance Changes
Poidatz et al. 2023 (France, 603,259 trajectories)
- Flight speed:
- Bees leaving vs entering: 1.9× faster (bees leaving)
- Bees vs Vespa velutina: 1.25× faster (bees entering)
- Hovering time: Vespa velutina 2.1× more hovering time than bees
- Response to Vespa velutina density:
- Bees entering: Speed and curvature increase with Vespa velutina density
- Bees leaving: Speed decreases with Vespa velutina density
Activity Patterns
Temporal Patterns
| Study | Peak Activity Time | Peak Season | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poidatz et al. 2023 | Vespa velutina: 13:00 h, Bee: 15:00 h | - | France |
| Monceau et al. 2017 | Nest A: 14:00 h, Nest B: 13:00 h | October | France |
| Requier et al. 2019 | 9:06-18:08 h (daily period) | September-October | France |
| Perrard et al. 2009 | 15:30-16:30 h | - | France |
| Diéguez-Antón et al. 2022 | 7:00-21:00 h (daily period) | Sept (2020), Oct (2021) | Spain |
Monceau et al. 2013 (France, 2009, 2 hives)
- Flying activity pattern: Higher early morning, decreased afternoon/evening
- Seasonal pattern: Higher in July, decreased throughout summer until October
- Activity relation to Vespa velutina: Negative (negatively related to number of Vespa velutina)
- Returning foragers vs guards: P=0.01 (flying honeybees returning suffered more predation)
- Forager load: Up to 40% extra body mass (pollen or nectar loads)
Environmental Correlations
Diéguez-Antón et al. 2022 (Spain, 2020-2021, 2 colonies)
- Optimal temperature: 15-25°C for Vespa velutina activity
- Optimal humidity: >60% for Vespa velutina activity
- Temperature correlation: r=0.368, p<0.01 (positive)
- Humidity correlation: r=-0.347, p<0.01 (inverse)
Diéguez-Antón et al. 2025 (Spain, 2021-2022, 6 colonies)
- Optimal temperature range: 17-26°C (most suitable for observing higher number of Vespa velutina)
Perrard et al. 2009 (France, 2007, 1 captive colony)
- Activity start: 6:00 h (workers' flights)
- Activity end: 22:00-22:30 h (dusk)
- Peak activity: 15:30-16:30 h (3:30-4:30 pm)
- Minimum activity temperature: 10°C (no activity below this)
Homing Failure
Requier et al. 2019 (France, 2012-2016, 603 observations)
- Homing failure effect: Z=-5.37, P<0.001 (significantly dependent on flight activity)
- Pattern: Maximal under very low flight activity, decreases with increased flight activity
France (Requier et al. 2023)
Note: This analysis was originally based on a preprint version (published 2023, Science of the Total Environment). The study is France-specific and uses spatial modeling combining field data, niche modeling, and BEEHAVE agent-based simulations. No comparable quantitative economic impact studies are available for other European countries.
National Economic Costs (Yearly)
| Scenario | Colonies Lost | Percentage of Livestock | Economic Cost (€) | Impact vs Honey Revenues |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low predation (1 Vespa velutina/nest) | 27,821 | 2.6% | €2.8 million | 2.4% |
| High predation (20 Vespa velutina/nest) | 308,379 | 29.2% | €30.8 million | 26.6% |
Key Metrics:
- Colony replacement cost: €100 per colony (Requier et al. 2020a)
- National honey production (2015): 14,490 tons
- National honey revenue (2015): €116 million (at €8/kg)
- Colonies at risk: 98.2% (1,017,713 out of 1,056,314 colonies)
- Average loss per township (low scenario): 10.2% (sd = 15.3%)
- Average loss per township (high scenario): 48.3% (sd = 25.7%)
Regional Economic Costs (High Predation Scenario):
- Average regional cost: €1.3 million per year
- Range: €0.4 million (Corse) to €5.5 million (Occitanie)
- Regional economic impact: Average 21.9% of honey revenues
- Regional impact range: 13.2% (Bourgogne-Franche-Comté) to 96.5% (Normandie)
Comparison with Control Costs:
- Control cost (France, yearly): €11.9 million (Barbet-Massin et al. 2020)
- Damage cost vs control cost: Up to 3× higher (€30.8M vs €11.9M)
Methodological Notes:
- Based on spatial modeling combining field data (1,260 nests over 28,348 km²), niche modeling, and BEEHAVE agent-based simulations
- Low scenario likely underestimated (1 Vespa velutina/nest < observed mean of 2.3)
- High scenario based on maximum observed values (realistic but extreme)
- Real economic cost likely between low and high scenarios
Spain (Angulo et al. 2021):
- Total economic costs of invasive alien species: €232 million (1997-2022)
- Cost increase: €4 million/year before 2000 → €15 million/year in recent years
- Limitation: Costs aggregated across 174 invasive species; Vespa velutina-specific costs not separately reported
- Study excluded from main analysis (no original Vespa velutina data)
Portugal and Belgium: No quantitative economic impact studies available. Studies from these countries focus on predation behavior and colony monitoring rather than economic costs.
Control Cost Projections (Barbet-Massin et al. 2020):
- Potential control costs if species fills climatically suitable distribution:
- Italy: €9.0M/year
- United Kingdom: €8.6M/year
- Note: These are control cost projections, not damage cost estimates
The InvaCost database is a comprehensive global repository documenting economic costs of invasive alien species worldwide, including Vespa velutina. The database provides standardized cost data that can be used for comparative analyses and policy assessments.
Access and Data Format:
- Website: https://invacost.fr/
- GitHub Repository: https://github.com/Farewe/invacost
- Data Format: CSV/Excel files, R package (
invacost) - Citation: Diagne et al. (2020). High and rising economic costs of biological invasions worldwide. Nature, 592, 571-576. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03405-6
Database Contents:
- Global coverage of invasive species economic costs
- Standardized cost categories (damage, management, prevention)
- Temporal data (costs over time)
- Geographic data (costs by country/region)
- Cost type classification (observed vs. potential, robust vs. extrapolated)
Use for Vespa velutina Research:
- Filter database for Vespa velutina-specific cost entries
- Compare costs across different countries and time periods
- Analyze cost trends and patterns
- Extract data for economic impact assessments
Note: The database aggregates cost data from multiple sources. Users should verify data quality and methodology for specific entries. Some entries may represent aggregated costs (e.g., all invasive species in a region) rather than species-specific costs.
| Country | Number of Studies | Key Findings |
|---|---|---|
| France | 17 | Highest number of studies, longest invasion history |
| Spain | 5 | Multiple regions (Galicia, Catalonia, Mallorca) |
| Portugal | 1 | Metabarcoding studies on prey composition |
| United Kingdom | 2 | Early detection and eradication efforts |
| Europe (pan-European) | 1 | EPILOBEE study across 17 countries |
| Multiple countries | 1 | Pedersen et al. 2025 (Jersey, France, Spain, UK) |
| Study | Apiaries | Colonies | Nests | Vespa velutina | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arca et al. 2014 | 8 | 95 | Not specified | Variable | Defensive behavior study |
| Monceau et al. 2013 | 2 | 23 | Not specified | 2,810 trapped | Predation pressure |
| Requier et al. 2018 | 75 | 131 | Not specified | 0-20 observed | Foraging paralysis |
| Requier et al. 2020 | 22 | 44 | Not specified | 0-20 observed | Muzzle effectiveness |
| Requier et al. 2023 | 51 plots | Variable (4-24 per apiary) | 1,260 | Variable | Economic cost study |
| Diéguez-Antón et al. 2022 | 1 | 2 | Not specified | Variable | Photo monitoring |
| Diéguez-Antón et al. 2025 | 3 | 6 | Not specified | 11,406 total | Long-term pressure |
| Rojas-Nossa et al. 2022 | 3 | Variable | Not specified | 4,359 captured | Electric harps |
| Jacques et al. 2017 | 5,798 | Variable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Pan-European study |
| Study | Nests | Method | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rome et al. 2021 | 16 | Pellet collection | France |
| Verdasca et al. 2021 | 12 | Metabarcoding | Portugal |
| Herrera et al. 2025 | 7 | Meconium analysis | Spain (Mallorca) |
| Pedersen et al. 2025 | 103 | Larval gut contents | Multiple countries |
| Stainton et al. 2023 | 5 | Larval gut contents | UK |
| Requier et al. 2023 | 1,260 | Field observations | France (4 districts) |
- High methodological heterogeneity: Studies use different observation methods (visual counts, video tracking, trapping, DNA metabarcoding, pellet analysis), making direct comparison of effect sizes problematic.
- Inconsistent outcome measures: Predation rates, survival percentages, and behavioral changes are measured using different metrics, timeframes, and units across studies.
- Lack of standardized control groups: Most studies are observational without explicit control groups, making it difficult to calculate comparable effect sizes.
- Geographic and temporal variation: Studies span different countries, years, and seasons, with varying Vespa velutina population densities and beekeeping practices.
- Small sample sizes per study: Many studies have small sample sizes (2-6 colonies, 1-3 apiaries), limiting statistical power for meta-analysis.
- Diverse study designs: Mix of experimental interventions (muzzles, electric harps), observational studies, and modeling approaches cannot be meaningfully combined in a single meta-analysis.
The EIS report "Hoe verder met de Aziatische hoornaar? - Beleidsadvies" (Zeegers & Buesink, 2024) concludes that the Asian hornet poses no threat to public health and biodiversity, and that money spent on control is wasted. Van Alphen (2025) has published a scientific assessment of this policy advice, concluding that the EIS report does not cite relevant scientific literature and that its conclusions do not align with findings from peer-reviewed scientific publications.
Van Alphen, J.J.M. (2025). Verantwoord beleid bij het beheer van de Aziatische hoornaar in Nederland. Naturalis Biodiversity Center. https://www.bijenhouders.nl/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Verantwoord-beleid-Aziatische-hoornaar.pdf
Zeegers, T. & Buesink, R. (2024). Hoe verder met de Aziatische hoornaar? Beleidsadvies. EIS. https://www.imkersnederland.nl/userfiles/nieuws/265_aziatische_hoornaar_rapport_compleet_1.pdf