Natural Beekeeping International Forum

[Mark Young]

Seems that I have a European Hornets nest in my apiary in a disused hive. They are eating a number of bees at the hive entrances while I watch which is worrying. Seem to be picking on one particular hive too; which, unless they know something I do not, isn't a weak colony. There is a lot of them and im not sure what to do. It looks like they are eating bees one after another relentlessly.

I dont like the idea of killing them but cant decipher whats fact from fiction on the internet regarding their impact.

[Dexter's shed]

you need to contact and report them to DEFRA for a start

then your next action will depend if you want to stay being a bee keeper, as not killing them will mean you will loose all your bees to them,

[CeeBee]

[Dexter's shed]

yeah, my bad, speed reading,lol

[Mark Young]

Most definitely Natives, quite fascinating to watch and not at all bothered by my presence near the entrance. I can observe noticeable size variations and I cant wait to get some photos.

For now I have moved the hive being picked on and reduced entrances slightly to improve defence. Going to observe and hold back on any rash actions. May even watch a hive for 30 mins and track hornet visits/bee deaths although I suspect a lot are taken on the wing rather than at home?

[Lacewing]

Do you think it would be feasible to erect a net around the vulnerable hive - with mesh small enough to discourage/prevent the hornets entering? - Or would mesh that small cause trouble to the flying bees as well? (Have never had to try it.)

[catchercradle]

Before too long, they are likely to not be content with taking bees by the entrance. Narrow down entrances on all your hives so that they are easier to defend or as their taste changes to wanting sweet things in the autumn they will start robbing out hives.

This assumes you do not want to destroy the nest which I admit is a thing of beauty. Is there somewhere you could move it to?

And, does anyone know what the hornet equivalent of the less than three feet or more than three miles rule is.

[Barbara]

I would have been inclined to move the hive containing the hornets nest, to a different location one evening when they were all at home, rather than moving the targeted bee colony, but I'm probably a bit late with that suggestion now.
Hope they don't cause too much of a problem and you are able to leave them to it.

Good luck with them

Barbara

[Lacewing]

Yes. Surely to move the hornets if at all possible makes more sense! The problem is going to get worse during the autumn before it gets better, isn't it...

[Mark Young]

The TBH they are in isn't my best example of joinery and my other site is a fair distance away so moving them is going to be an obstacle I can't see a way around.

I have been watching them and feel they are taking way too many Bees, Its a constant flow of hornets bringing dead bees back to their hive so I'm not really left with much in the way of options...

[catchercradle]

Dress up and at night with a rear (red) bike light, pop the nest into a plastic bag and remove it.

[Mark Young]

[MikeRobinson]

I dealt with that earlier this year ... by burning the hive-box. Salvaged all the parts from it and put the rest into the fuel-box for winter.