This was a type known locally as “vespa,” which apparently corresponds to what is called the “European hornet” in Japanese.
European hornets
Speaking of hornets, the Asian hornet, which has also been found in Japan in recent years, has become a serious concern.
Although it was not originally native to Europe, it entered France in the early 2000s and has since spread rapidly. Favorable climate conditions have helped it spread even further, and it is now seen in many parts of Portugal as well. The area where I live is a rural town with a lot of nature, and I have increasingly seen them flying around fragrant trees. The real problem is that they sometimes stray onto balconies, which can be extremely dangerous.
I am too scared to swat them, and I also feel a bit sorry for them, so I try to guide them outside without provoking them. Still, I can’t really say this is the right way to deal with them. Accidents have occurred in various places, and damage has been reported as well. In Portugal, the Asian hornet is designated as an invasive alien species.
The Municipality of Mafra distributes flyers, urging residents to take all possible precautions.
The flyer first explains how to identify Asian hornets, their behavior, the characteristics of their nests, and how nests should be removed. It then highlights the most important point: what to do if you actually find one.
There have been several cases in which people unknowingly destroyed nests themselves, leading to serious accidents. To avoid this, the first step is to take a photo, record the location (including GPS coordinates if possible), and contact the municipal office. The flyer also provides the relevant contact information.
The reason Asian hornets are such a problem is that they prey on honeybees, native bees and wasps, and other pollinating insects. And because they have few natural predators, their numbers are increasing rapidly. Asian hornets pose a major threat to honeybees, for example. They say that if just four or five enter a hive, they can kill thousands of honeybees within an hour.
I once found a honeybee nest that was partway built in an old chicken coop in our garden. However, there was not a single honeybee living in it. I did not see any flying around nearby either. Perhaps that, too, was due to the impact of Asian hornets.
Honeybee nest
When I first moved to this area, there were many honeybees flying around, but over the past few years I have hardly seen them at all. And since Asian hornets began spreading, I feel as though I have also seen fewer vespa, or European hornets.
Bees and hornets that wandered into our house and died (could the one in the upper left be an Asian hornet?)
In Mafra, beekeeping is relatively common, and many different types of honey are sold. There are many varieties, including orange blossom, chestnut blossom, eucalyptus, and rosemary honey. The price of honey has also gone up quite a bit in recent years. There are probably many factors, such as unstable weather and rising production costs, but the increasingly harsh environment honeybees are subject to may also be part of the picture.
Will honey continue to become more and more precious in the years ahead?
For our honey-loving household, that would be a real shame...
