Dangerous Asian hornet in Poland. The first nest has been eliminated, but there will be more.

The yellow-legged hornet (Vespa velutina), an invasive species from Asia, poses a significant threat to bees, particularly honeybees. Observations in Western Europe indicate that their presence weakens bee colonies. In Poland, the hornet was spotted in October, leading to the destruction of a nest in Wielka Wieś by firefighters and researchers. This method is currently the only effective way to combat the hornet, although traps are less effective. Experts warn that new nests may appear in spring, as many young queens have likely left the destroyed nest. The yellow-legged hornet was first identified in France in 2004 and has since spread to neighboring countries, including Germany and the Czech Republic. The identification in Poland began with photos shared on iNaturalist and reports from beekeepers.