What technology are Alsace beekeepers using to fight Asian hornets?

Alsace beekeepers are using thermal-imaging binoculars and transmitters to track and locate Asian hornet nests.

How has the Asian hornet population changed in Haut-Rhin, France over the past few years?

The number of reported Asian hornet nests in Haut-Rhin has surged from 15-20 in 2023 to an estimated 400 this year.

Home / Environment / Beekeepers Wage High-Tech War Against Invasive Asian Hornets

Beekeepers Wage High-Tech War Against Invasive Asian Hornets

Q: What impact are the Asian hornets having on Alsace's beekeeping industry?

The Asian hornet invasion has had a devastating impact on local bee populations, with many hives attacked or decimated, threatening the future of beekeeping and biodiversity in the region.

16 Nov, 2025

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Summary

Beekeepers use thermal imaging and transmitters to track and destroy Asian hornet nests
Asian hornet numbers have surged in Alsace, France, decimating local bee populations
Nest-hunting has become a critical part of beekeepers' jobs to protect their hives

Beekeepers Wage High-Tech War Against Invasive Asian Hornets

In Alsace, France, beekeepers are engaged in a high-tech battle against the invasive Asian hornet, a predatory insect that has seen a dramatic increase in numbers over the past two years. Armed with thermal-imaging binoculars and transmitters, these apiarists are taking a forensic approach to tracking down and destroying the hornets' nests.

The Asian hornet first arrived in France in 2004 and has since become firmly entrenched in the Haut-Rhin region, where the number of reported nests has skyrocketed from 15-20 in 2023 to an estimated 400 this year. This surge has had a devastating impact on local bee populations, with many hives attacked or decimated.