Source info - Office for Insects and Their Environment, France
Asian hornets are now well established in mainland France, and we have to accept it: it will be impossible to eradicate this species. Given this reality, the question is not how to make them disappear, but how to learn to limit their impacts without worsening an already alarming situation for French wildlife.
Adopting a balanced approach, based
on scientific knowledge, is essential today. Protecting domestic bees
is important socially and economically, but this should not come at
the expense of other wild insects that help maintain functional
ecosystems.
Managing Asian hornets cannot rely on isolated
actions or responses driven by fear or instinctive rejection. On the
contrary, it requires cooperation between beekeepers, scientists,
local authorities, and public officials in order to put forward
coherent, well-thought-out, effective solutions that respect living
beings, especially other animals. It's important that debate and
discussion can stay open and that everyone's interests don't cut off
the dialogue and cooperation needed to find long-term solutions. In
this context, public authorities and beekeeping professionals are
finalising the implementation of a national action plan. The way we
talk about these insects also matters: fear-mongering or
oversimplified messages often fuel irrational, or even
counterproductive or dangerous, practices. Videos on social media
circulate showing people getting rid of nests in dangerous ways and
presenting these practices as "cheap, effective, and easy."
Better informing and raising public awareness is therefore a key step
to encourage fairer and more suitable responses. When Apiaries are
under heavy predation pressure, any action must be targeted and
proportionate. Installing hive protection devices, like muzzles, trap
muzzles, or hornet-proof grids, helps limit attacks while still
allowing bees to move freely. These much more thoughtful and sensible
practices are starting to take hold in the beekeeping world: some
beekeepers have already begun changing and improving their methods,
taking into account the sustainable establishment of these new
hornets in our environment and the importance of favouring actions
that minimise impacts on biodiversity.
Chris
All about the Asian Hornet in France
