Two primary nests of Vespa velutina have been discovered in Lustenau, Austria, near the Swiss border. The nests were found inside a storage container.

This marks the first documented discovery of Vespa velutina nests in Austria. Previously, the species had only been recorded in the country through the sighting of a single specimen in Salzburg in 2024, as reported by the Italian website StopVelutina.

The discovery highlights the yellow-legged hornet’s continued spread across Europe and its potential expansion into northern and eastern regions. Only one of the nests was inhabited and it was immediately destroyed. Local authorities have urged beekeepers to strengthen monitoring efforts in order to detect any further incursions.

Read the official news on the Austrian website aqui.