One of the nests was still very small and empty; the other was inhabited. The inhabited nest was removed in accordance with best practice and the insects were killed. In Austria, an Asian hornet (Vespa velutina) was first spotted on 9 April 2024 in the city of Salzburg. It was a young queen without a nest, which was killed. Originally native to South-East Asia, the species was introduced to France in 2004 and has been spreading across Europe ever since.
For healthy people, the Asian hornet is just as harmless as the native hornet (Vespa crabro). Both species are peaceful and normally only attack humans when threatened. However, their noisy flight can be unsettling. Should a sting occur, allergic reactions – as with the native hornet – are possible. We strongly advise against approaching an Asian hornet’s nest or attempting to remove it yourself – the hornets will defend their nest aggressively.