Asian Hornet Sighting in Berlin’s Neukölln District
For the first time since 2023, one of those insects was found in the German capital's Neukölln borough.
Berlin residents were alerted on September 5th, 2026, after the discovery of a dead Asian hornet on Delbrückstraße in the Neukölln district. The nature conservation group NABU has issued an urgent request for citizens to report any sightings of the invasive species, Vespa velutina nigrithorax, ideally with photographic evidence.
Reports should be directed to kontakt@hymenopterendienst.de. The NABU team believes that the best places to search for these hornets are areas with ivy, which is starting to bloom and attracts various late-flying insects, including hornets.
Native to Southeast Asia, the Asian hornet was first spotted in Berlin in 2023. Following the successful removal of a nest, the species went unnoticed in the city for nearly three more years. However, recent discoveries of nests in Eisenhüttenstadt and Leipzig indicate that the invasive species is spreading rapidly. NABU warns that in areas with high concentrations, Asian hornets may consume up to 80 percent of their protein requirements by preying on honeybees, while in rural regions, they primarily hunt wasps.
The economic impact of this invasive species could be substantial, especially for urban beekeepers, who may face significant losses. The potential for twelve nests per square kilometer heightens the concern. While the hornets are generally not more aggressive towards humans than European hornets, their nests may be found in tree canopies, hedges, or under manhole covers.
NABU emphasizes that the Asian hornet can be differentiated from its European counterpart by its predominantly dark color, yellow legs, and a broad orange band on its abdomen. In contrast, the European hornet exhibits a mostly yellow abdomen and tends to be larger.
Written by urgent.news from The Berlin Spectator's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
