The Oriental hornet (Vespa orientalis) is generating growing interest in Southern Europe, both among naturalists and beekeepers.
Long confined to the eastern Mediterranean basin and the Middle East, this species is now expanding its range, often in parallel – and sometimes in interaction – with the Asian hornet Vespa velutina.
This article aims to help correctly identify Vespa orientalis, understand the mechanisms behind its geographic expansion, and clarify its major differences from Vespa velutina, particularly from a beekeeping perspective.
1. What is Vespa orientalis?
Vespa orientalis is a hornet species native to hot and dry regions: Egypt, the Near East, Turkey, Iran, and the Arabian Peninsula.
Unlike Vespa velutina, it is not strictly an exotic species in Southern Europe, but its recent expansion raises new ecological and apicultural questions.
Confirmed observations now exist in Italy (including northern regions), mainland Greece, Malta, Cyprus, and certain areas of southern Spain. In 2025, its presence was also confirmed in Belgium (Wallonia) [ref. 5].
In Andalusia, Vespa orientalis now exerts pressure on beehives comparable to that of Vespa velutina in Western Europe, making the situation particularly difficult for beekeepers.
As of today (early 2026), no European region reports a stable and established coexistence of the two species within the same territory. Some isolated observations, particularly in Wallonia, have been mentioned, but they remain at an early stage and do not yet allow conclusions about stable coexistence.
Each species is currently following its own expansion dynamics, within climatic and ecological contexts that are still largely distinct. However, it is likely that in the medium term, the occupied areas of Vespa orientalis and Vespa velutina will partially overlap, raising new questions regarding interspecific competition and impacts on beekeeping.
2. Identification: avoiding confusion
| Criteria | Vespa crabro | Vespa orientalis | Vespa velutina |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
|
| Dominant color | Yellow and brown | Reddish-brown | Black |
| Abdomen | Largely yellow, striped abdomen | Wide bright yellow band (often two segments) | Single orange band |
| Legs | Reddish-brown | Reddish-brown | Yellow at the tips |
| Queen size | 35–40 mm | 35–40 mm | 30–35 mm |
| Worker size | 25–35 mm | 25–35 mm | 17–32 mm |
| Relative size | Large and very robust | Large and stocky | Smaller and slender |
| Activity | Diurnal, rather crepuscular | Highly diurnal, heat-dependent | Daytime (morning / late afternoon peaks) |
| Hovering flight in front of hives | Rare | Uncommon | Very frequent |
3. Biology and behavior
Vespa orientalis is a strongly thermophilic species whose activity increases markedly above 30°C. It often nests in underground cavities, walls, or urban infrastructures.
A remarkable feature of Vespa orientalis is its ability to exploit solar radiation (ref. 2). The yellow pigments of its cuticle contribute to partial conversion of light energy, a mechanism sometimes described as a form of biological photovoltaics. This phenomenon is documented in several scientific publications highlighting a link between solar exposure, thermoregulation, and metabolic activity.
This ability to harness solar energy naturally raises questions about whether comparable mechanisms exist in other species of the genus Vespa. As for Vespa velutina, no equivalent experimental demonstration exists to date. However, field observations suggest it may also indirectly benefit from solar radiation, particularly under hot and highly sunny conditions. This hypothesis remains exploratory and requires dedicated research for confirmation.
4. Geographic expansion and climate
Recent studies [ref. 3, 4] and occurrence data show that the expansion of Vespa orientalis is favored by:
- climate warming,
- increasingly long and dry summers,
- warm urban and peri-urban environments,
- passive transport via human trade (ports, logistics zones).
In the medium term, western Mediterranean areas, including southern France, appear potentially favorable for its establishment.
5. Predation on beehives: insights from field observations
Predation by Vespa orientalis on beehives is broadly comparable to that of Vespa velutina: capture of foragers in flight, intimidation at the hive entrance, and increased pressure in late summer and autumn when resources become scarce.
However, field observations carried out in Andalusia highlight a specific predation strategy that is particularly problematic for beekeeping.
Field feedback – Andalusia (José López, BeeOne, Seville)
According to observations by José López, a professional beekeeper in Seville (BeeOne), Vespa orientalis exerts very aggressive and structured predation on hives:
- From a morphological standpoint, Vespa orientalis is larger and heavier than Vespa velutina. As a result, it is less agile in hovering flight and less frequently performs prolonged “suspended” hunting in front of hives, a behavior typical of Vespa velutina.
- This reduced agility explains why predation is primarily concentrated on the landing board (hive entrance), where the pressure exerted by Vespa orientalis is very intense and continuous, especially during episodes of high heat. This behavior is consistent with the species’ biogeographical origin, adapted to hot and desert environments.
- The attack strategy is progressive: Vespa orientalis first eliminates foragers, then the guard bees present at the hive entrance.
- Once the colony’s defensive capacity is neutralized, Vespa orientalis enters the hive and proceeds to loot the brood (larvae) as well as food reserves stored in the frames.
- Finally, its predatory behavior is highly opportunistic: it exploits hives, organic remains, fruit, and other insects indiscriminately, depending on locally available resources.
6. Risk to humans: a specific hazard linked to nesting behavior
Beyond its impact on beekeeping, Vespa orientalis presents a particular risk to humans, mainly related to its nesting behavior.
Unlike Vespa velutina, which primarily builds its nests high up (trees, elevated structures), Vespa orientalis frequently nests in the ground. It exploits pre-existing cavities such as:
- rabbit burrows,
- badger tunnels,
- or abandoned cavities of bee-eaters.
This type of nesting makes colonies poorly visible, often located in areas frequented by humans (paths, embankments, gardens, agricultural land), greatly increasing the risk of accidental encounters.
Field observations show that Vespa orientalis displays a very rapid defensive response near the nest. From about 1.5 meters away, individuals may already be in a state of alert and defense, with attacks triggered without apparent human provocation.
This factor makes Vespa orientalis potentially more dangerous to people than Vespa velutina, particularly for:
- walkers,
- farmers,
- beekeepers,
- and anyone working close to the ground (brush clearing, agricultural work, embankment maintenance).
Vigilance is therefore essential in areas where the species is present, especially during summer and periods of high heat, when colony activity is at its peak.
7. Trapping: current limitations and operational strategies
Trapping Vespa orientalis is more challenging than trapping Vespa velutina.
Field observations show that:
- There is currently no effective attractive bait in spring for capturing founding queens.
- Sugar-based baits using scented glucose are the only ones showing effectiveness in reducing pressure from workers, only when the nest begins to require less protein and shifts toward sugar foraging around October in Cádiz.
- The larger body size of Vespa orientalis requires larger-diameter entrance nozzles than those used against V. velutina.
This is why some recent devices, such as Ornetin UV, include interchangeable trapping nozzles, allowing the entrance diameter to be adapted to the target species and optimizing trapping efficiency depending on the local context.
Entrance-board traps also prove effective both for:
- protecting the hive entrance,
- capturing Vespa orientalis workers when they seek the protein from bee thoraxes.
Operational summary (Andalusia)
At present, Vespa orientalis is considered more difficult to manage than Vespa velutina, mainly due to the lack of effective spring solutions targeting queens.
The most effective strategies observed are based on:
- physical protection of landing boards,
- targeted trapping of workers when the nest diet shifts,
- energy and protein feeding of colonies during peak attack periods to maintain sufficient hive population.
8. Conclusion
Vespa orientalis is not simply a “new version” of Vespa velutina.
It is a species with its own characteristics, whose management requires a detailed understanding of its biology, behavior, and morphological differences.
Field feedback, particularly from Andalusia, shows that traditional control strategies cannot be directly transposed and must be carefully adapted to avoid ineffective or even counterproductive actions.
References
- Smith-Pardo, A. & Carpenter, J. & Kimsey, L. (2020). The Diversity of Hornets in the Genus Vespa (Hymenoptera: Vespidae; Vespinae), Their Importance and Interceptions in the United States. Insect Systematics and Diversity.
- Ishay JS. (2004). Hornet flight is generated by solar energy: UV irradiation counteracts anaesthetic effects. Journal of Electron Microscopy.
- Carisio et al. (2023). Northward expansion of Vespa orientalis in Italy under Mediterranean climate conditions. Biological Invasions.
- Smith-Pardo A. et al. (2024). The Oriental hornet, Vespa orientalis Linnaeus, 1771: diagnosis, potential distribution, and geometric morphometrics across its natural distribution range. Frontiers in Insect Science.
- https://www.parlement-wallonie.be/pwpages?p=interp-questions-voir&type=28&iddoc=139320