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The sight of a large, copper and yellow hornet buzzing past is becoming more frequent in Andalucía. The oriental hornet, Vespa orientalis, has seen its presence rise by 30% between 2023 and 2024, according to the citizen science project Invasion of the Oriental Hornet in Andalucía. For beekeepers, this is cause for alarm. As entomologist Leopoldo Castro explains, “It’s a hive-killing machine.”

 

First detected in Algeciras in 2018, the hornet has now firmly established itself across all Andalusian provinces. Cádiz and Málaga are the most affected, but rapid spread has also been reported in Seville and Ceuta, with isolated sightings as far away as Albacete, Alicante, Barcelona and Madrid.

 

Beekeepers are among the hardest hit. The insect preys on honeybees, which it devours to feed itself and its larvae.

 

“Not only is the number of bees declining, but production is falling too,” says Azucena González of UPA Cádiz, who warns that 9% of beekeeping farms nationwide have been lost in recent years. The economic cost goes beyond honey: the hornet also damages crops such as grapes, figs and mangoes by boring holes into fruit, leaving it unsellable.

 

Although its sting is similar to that of the common wasp, the oriental hornet can become aggressive if its ground nests are disturbed, with reports of multiple stings at once. Some victims have even described temporary paralysis around the sting site.

 

Experts believe eradication is no longer possible. “It’s here to stay,” says researcher Florent Prunier. With no official invasive species designation, there are currently no approved control methods. For now, authorities and farmers are left with the costly task of removing nests and trying to limit the damage.