Bee-eating Asian hornets spread, especially in Geneva
The city of Geneva has become the Swiss capital of the Asian hornet, an invasive species that has been on the rise in Switzerland in recent months, reports Le Matin Dimanche.
This content was published on
2 minutes
Le Matin Dimanche/Keystone-SDA/jc
Italiano
it
I calabroni asiatici mangiatori di api si diffondono soprattutto a Ginevra
“By Friday evening, we had received 31 reports confirming the presence of Asian hornets,” biologist Daniel Cherix, head of the task force monitoring this insect, told the paper. “Almost all of them were from French-speaking Switzerland, except for one from canton Basel Country.”
Cherix says there were two reports in canton Vaud, four in Neuchâtel, seven in the Jura and as many as 17 in Geneva. He points out that reports were extremely rare this time last year. Cherix explains these hornets’ apparent preference for Geneva by its proximity to France, which is already colonized, the fact that it is harder to discover nests in urban areas, and especially the increase in beehives in cities.
The Asian hornet is particularly devastating for bee colonies, feeding on honeybees and other insects. A colony of Asian hornets can eat more than 11 kilogrammes of insects every year.
They were first spotted in Switzerland in 2017 in the Jura, but it was from the second half of 2022 that the situation changed. “We discovered Asian hornets in 24 places and destroyed nests in four cantons,” Cherix told Le Matin Dimanche.
The biologist says “the next few weeks will be crucial”. At this time of year Asian hornets can be spotted in gardens and may even enter houses. He advises members of the public who think they have spotted one to kill it and send a photo or video as recommended by this websiteExternal link.
Asian hornets are more black than yellow, whereas the European hornet is more yellow than black. They are not very aggressive and rarely sting humans, according to the expert.
Swiss authorities announce cost-cutting in asylum sector
This content was published on
The government notably wants to improve integration into the labour force, particularly for people with protection status S.
Various leaders confirm participation at Ukraine peace conference
This content was published on
The presidents of Poland, Finland, and Latvia and the prime ministers of Spain and Belgium will be at the Swiss-hosted talks in mid-June.
This content was published on
In the winter season up to April 2024, railway and cable car operators ferried 3% more visitors compared to the previous winter, and 5% more than the five-year average.
Rhine flooding: Swiss to invest CHF1 billion with Austria
This content was published on
As part of an international agreement with Austria, the Swiss government wants to pump CHF1 billion ($1.1 billion) into flood protection measures along the Rhine over the next three decades.
Swiss government proposes CHF10 million UNRWA donation
This content was published on
After months of debate, Switzerland plans to give CHF10 million ($11 million) to the UN agency this year, rather than the CHF20 million initially foreseen.
Swiss study: insects mainly migrate at midday and dusk
This content was published on
A study led by the Swiss Ornithological Institute in canton Lucerne is helping to better understand the movement patterns of migratory insects.
Red Cross: 22 staff killed in Middle East since October
This content was published on
The Red Cross and Red Crescent network in Gaza and Israel has lost 22 staff members since last October, the Swiss Red Cross (SRC) said on Wednesday.
Dortmund’s Kobel is first Swiss goalie in Champions League final
This content was published on
Borussia Dortmund’s Gregor Kobel has achieved history by becoming the first Swiss goalkeeper to reach a Champion’s League final.
University students in Switzerland join Gaza protest wave
This content was published on
Pro-Palestinian activists occupied university buildings in Lausanne, Geneva and Zurich on Tuesday, widening the protest movement in the Alpine nation.
Lake invaders: alien shellfish trouble Swiss waters
This content was published on
Switzerland may be landlocked, but that doesn’t keep foreign marine life from threatening its ecosystems. Could eating them be part of the solution?
This content was published on
Switzerland has waged war on invasive species. The fight is starting to bear fruit, but private citizens have to lend a hand.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.