NATIVE RANGE: Asia

FIRST FINDING IN SLOVENIA: not yet found in Slovenia

PATHWAYS: hitchhiker with transport of goods

POSSIBLE TO FIND: April – September

FLIGHT SEASON OF ADULTS: April – September

DESCRIPTION: A large wasp, 20–30 mm long. The head is black with a yellow frons, a black thorax and a dark brown abdomen. Every abdominal segment has a narrow yellow trailing edge, with the exception of the fourth abdominal segment, which is entirely yellow-brown to orange. The upper legs are brown with yellow distal parts. In springtime, the females build cellulose nests, in which the queen lays her eggs. Asian hornet nests are large, egg-shaped structures which can measure 0.5 m or more in diameter. The nest entrance-hole is placed in the side of the nest. Only queens overwinter.

HABITAT: A range of natural habitats, farmland and urban areas. Nests are built in tall trees and on a variety of high objects.

STATUS: Present in several European countries.

SIMILAR SPECIES: The European hornet (Vespa crabro) is very similar, but is somewhat larger and has a yellow abdomen. The nest of European hornet has the entrance-hole on the underside rather than laterally.

SOURCE: Field Guide to Invasive Alien Species in European Forests

NOTE: this species is included in the list of Invasive Alien Species of Union concern (the Union list) of Regulation (EU) 1143/2014. The species included on the Union list are subject to restrictions and measures set out in the Regulation. These include restrictions on keeping, importing, selling, breeding and growing. Member States are required to take action on pathways of unintentional introduction, to take measures for the early detection and rapid eradication of these species, and to manage species that are already widely spread in their territory.