Asian Hornet 2026: The National Plan and Grants to Have a Nest Destroyed

By July, Asian hornet (Vespa velutina) colonies reach their full growth and secondary nests become clearly visible. The 2026 season is special: for the first time, the fight against this invasive species is backed by a national plan and by financial support that changes everything for households and local authorities alike. Here's what to keep in mind, and how to react if a nest appears near your home in the Paris region.

An unprecedented national framework since 2025

Law no. 2025-237 of 14 March 2025, adopted unanimously, aims to curb the proliferation of the Asian hornet and protect the beekeeping sector. Its implementing decree no. 2025-1377, published on 29 December 2025, made the system operational.

In concrete terms, the national plan against the yellow-legged Asian hornet was unveiled on 27 March 2026. It mobilises €3 million a year over six years, an amount to be weighed against estimated losses for beekeeping — around €98 million. The plan is built around three pillars and eight actions: monitoring, prevention, selective trapping and nest destruction.

Asian hornet recognisable by its yellow legs and dark abdomen

What actually changes in 2026

Several measures make control more accessible:

• a single support desk open since 1 May 2026 to help municipalities and associations;
• departmental plans rolled out gradually, with a strategy tailored to each area's level of infestation;
• many municipalities covering 50 to 100% of the cost of destroying a nest, and some town halls distributing free trapping kits to residents.

Before any intervention, the right reflex is to contact your town hall: depending on your municipality, part or all of the nest destruction may be funded.

Why acting fast still matters

The Asian hornet is a formidable threat to bees and can pose a danger to people in the event of a group attack, especially near a disturbed nest. In summer, a mature nest holds several thousand individuals, often perched high in a tree, but sometimes under a roof, in a hedge or a garden shed.

Spotting a nest early makes destruction simpler and less risky. To tell the Asian hornet apart from the European hornet and locate a nest, read our guide: how to recognise an Asian hornet nest and react safely.

Good prevention habits

1. Set up selective traps at the right time (late winter and early spring) to capture queens before colonies form.
2. Regularly inspect sheltered areas: roof overhangs, sheds, dense hedges.
3. Never approach a nest and don't try to destroy it yourself: hornets attack as a group to defend the colony.
4. Report any suspicious nest to your town hall and call in a professional.

Having a nest destroyed safely

Destroying an Asian hornet nest must be carried out by a properly equipped professional, preferably at the end of the day when colony activity drops. Our technicians work with suitable protective equipment and telescopic poles to neutralise the nest, even at height, without risk to you or those around you.

Our teams operate throughout the Paris region (Île-de-France), including emergencies. Contact us for a rapid intervention, discover all our pest control services or check our intervention pricing. We can also help you put together your application if your municipality contributes to funding the nest destruction.