For the first time, a species of hornet particularly formidable for bees has been identified near Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône). This hornet is even more aggressive than its Asian cousin.
The oriental hornet is the new predator of bees. The insect was detected for the first time in France in Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône). Marc Rigo, an amateur beekeeper, says he has to face this new threat every day. “I killed, I believe, six this morning in five minutes”, he confides. More dangerous and aggressive than its Asian cousin, the second leading cause of bee mortality, the eastern hornet could decimate several hives on its own.
“It disrupts the functioning of the hives, explains Marc Rigo. The bees who want to go out are afraid, and those who want to re-enter, which have gone foraging, they cannot get in, so that slows down production.“ Usually present in the Balkans, Turkey or East Asia, this species could have reached France by boat. Warmer temperatures could also explain its displacement. Moreover, if it is more dangerous for bees, the oriental hornet is not so for humans.