Vespa velutina(VESPVE)
Distribution details in France
Current pest situation evaluated by EPPO on the basis of information dated
2026: Present, widespread
First recorded in: 2003
First recorded in: 2003
Introduced probably in 2003/2004, it then rapidly spread (in 2009, 32 departments were invaded). It is hypothetized that it has been introduced with imports of pottery from China.
EPPO Reporting Service (2007/197) : first collected in a private garden, on a fruit of Diospyros kaki at Nérac, Lot-et-Garonne.
Rojas-Nossa et al. (2026): present in all continental France, expect colder mountainous regions.
EPPO Reporting Service (2007/197) : first collected in a private garden, on a fruit of Diospyros kaki at Nérac, Lot-et-Garonne.
Rojas-Nossa et al. (2026): present in all continental France, expect colder mountainous regions.
* Anonymous (2007) Phyto-régions. Aquitaine et Midi-Pyrénées. Le frelon asiatique s’installe. Phytoma – La Défense des Végétaux no. 3, p 3.
* Haxaire J, Bouguet JP, Tamisier JP (2006) Vespa velutina Lepeletier 1836, une redoutable nouveauté pour la faune de France (Hym., Vespidae). Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France 111(2), p 194.
* Rome Q, Dambrine L, Onate C, Muller F, Villemant C, García Pérez AL, Maia M, Carvalho Esteves P, Bruneau E (2013) Spread of the invasive hornet Vespa velutina Lepeletier, 1836, in Europe in 2012 (Hym., Vespidae). Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France 118, 21-22.
------ A map shows the spread in Europe (approximately half of France has been invaded).
* Rojas-Nossa SV, Bartlett LJ, Kolics É, del Mar Leza M, Nave A, Pusceddu M, Rein C, Robla J, Rome Q, Seehausen ML, Senko D (2026) Worldwide distribution and invasion status of Vespa velutina (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), the yellow-legged hornet, in 2025. European Journal of Entomology 123, 217-232. doi: 10.14411/eje.2026.022
* Villemant C, Haxaire J, Streito JC (2006) Premier bilan de l’invasion de Vespa velutina Lepeletier en France (Hymenoptera, Vespidae). Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France 111(4), 235-238.
* Villemant C, Rome Q, Haxaire J (2010) Le Frelon asiatique (Vespa velutina). In Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle [Ed]. 2010. Inventaire national du Patrimoine naturel, site Web. http://inpn.mnhn.fr
* Haxaire J, Bouguet JP, Tamisier JP (2006) Vespa velutina Lepeletier 1836, une redoutable nouveauté pour la faune de France (Hym., Vespidae). Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France 111(2), p 194.
* Rome Q, Dambrine L, Onate C, Muller F, Villemant C, García Pérez AL, Maia M, Carvalho Esteves P, Bruneau E (2013) Spread of the invasive hornet Vespa velutina Lepeletier, 1836, in Europe in 2012 (Hym., Vespidae). Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France 118, 21-22.
------ A map shows the spread in Europe (approximately half of France has been invaded).
* Rojas-Nossa SV, Bartlett LJ, Kolics É, del Mar Leza M, Nave A, Pusceddu M, Rein C, Robla J, Rome Q, Seehausen ML, Senko D (2026) Worldwide distribution and invasion status of Vespa velutina (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), the yellow-legged hornet, in 2025. European Journal of Entomology 123, 217-232. doi: 10.14411/eje.2026.022
* Villemant C, Haxaire J, Streito JC (2006) Premier bilan de l’invasion de Vespa velutina Lepeletier en France (Hymenoptera, Vespidae). Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France 111(4), 235-238.
* Villemant C, Rome Q, Haxaire J (2010) Le Frelon asiatique (Vespa velutina). In Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle [Ed]. 2010. Inventaire national du Patrimoine naturel, site Web. http://inpn.mnhn.fr
| Country | State | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium | Present, restricted distribution | ||
| Germany | Present, few occurrences | ||
| Italy | Present, restricted distribution | ||
| Luxembourg | Present, widespread | ||
| Monaco | Present, no details | ||
| Spain | Present, restricted distribution | ||
| Spain | Islas Canárias | Transient | |
| Spain | Islas Baleares | Present, no details | |
| Switzerland | Present, restricted distribution |