First Asian Hornet Nest Found in Brandenburg, Removed Near Eisenhüttenstadt

The nest was growing quickly, according to Brandenburg's Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, which announced the find. "Es handle sich um ein schnell wachsendes Nest, wie das Agrar- und Umweltministerium in Potsdam mitteilte." The state government moved to have the structure dismantled on the Friday following its detection, in line with Germany's policy of deliberately removing Asian hornet nests wherever they are confirmed.

Beekeeper Holger Ackermann, who was involved in the response, described the removal as straightforward. "Das Nest ließ sich ganz gut entfernen", sagte Imker Holger Ackermann. He emphasised that speed and good organisation were essential in dealing with an invasive colony. "Man muss schnell und gut sortiert vorgehen", sagte er.

An Invasive Species from Southeast Asia

The Asian hornet is native to Southeast Asia and is classified in Germany as an invasive species — a creature not naturally occurring in the country that has arrived through human activity. The species has already become established in other German federal states, and previous occurrences have been confirmed along the Elbe in Saxony-Anhalt and Lower Saxony.

Bees are the preferred prey of the Asian hornet, which specifically hunts at beehives. "Bienen sind bevorzugte Beute der Eindringlinge, die gezielt Jagd auf Bienenstöcke machen." The hunting pressure on honey bee colonies is a particular concern for apiarists, who fear that the spread of Vespa velutina nigrithorax could damage already-stressed pollinator populations.

Ackermann estimated that the Eisenhüttenstadt nest contained roughly 50 to 100 hornets. While individual counts of an early-season colony of this size are relatively modest, the nest was located under a roof overhang of an office building, raising concerns about the species' proximity to people.

Risk to Humans and Bees

The Asian hornet can also be dangerous to humans, especially in the vicinity of their nests. "Aber auch für den Menschen können die Hornissen vor allem in der Nähe der Nester gefährlich werden." Defensive behaviour near the nest can pose a risk, particularly for anyone disturbing the structure inadvertently.

A similar case occurred in Berlin in 2023, where the rapid removal of a nest was able to prevent further establishment. "Einen ähnlichen Fall habe es 2023 in Berlin gegeben, wo die schnelle Beseitigung eines Nestes die weitere Ansiedlung habe verhindern können." Officials in Brandenburg are drawing on that experience as they coordinate the response in Eisenhüttenstadt.

Lessons from Berlin

Because the Brandenburg find represents an isolated settlement far from the species' existing range, experts see good chances of preventing further spread in the Eisenhüttenstadt area. "Da es sich bei dem ersten Fund in Brandenburg um eine isolierte Ansiedlung weitab vom bisherigen Verbreitungsgebiet der Art handele, sehen die Fachleute gute Chancen, dass eine weitere Ausbreitung im Raum Eisenhüttenstadt verhindert werden kann."

Nests of the Asian hornet (Vespa velutina nigrithorax) are deliberately removed in Germany. "Die Nester der Asiatischen Hornisse (Vespa velutina nigrithorax) werden in Deutschland gezielt beseitigt." This targeted removal policy is part of a broader strategy to contain invasive species before they can establish breeding populations.

The Asian hornet is an introduced species originating from Southeast Asia. "Die eingeschleppte und aus Südostasien stammende Hornisse" has spread across much of continental Europe over the past two decades, primarily through the accidental movement of hibernating queens in cargo and luggage. Each new queen that successfully founds a colony can give rise to an entire local population within a single season.

In other German federal states, the introduced species has already become established. "In anderen Bundesländern ist die eingeschleppte und aus Südostasien stammende Hornisse bereits verbreitet." Brandenburg's first detection therefore fits a pattern of gradual northward spread that entomologists have tracked for years, and adds pressure on local beekeepers who already manage other stressors on their hives.

Outlook for the Eisenhüttenstadt Area

The current find at the eastern state border comes as a surprise precisely because Brandenburg had not previously recorded the species. Occurrences along the Elbe in Saxony-Anhalt and Lower Saxony had already been documented, but the Eisenhüttenstadt location is geographically separated from those known populations. "Denn an der Elbe in Sachsen-Anhalt und Niedersachsen wurden Vorkommen der Asiastischen Hornisse bereits nachgewiesen."

The nest was found in Eisenhüttenstadt, located under the eaves of an office building. "in Eisenhüttenstadt unter dem Dachvorsprung eines Bürogebäudes entdeckt" — a setting that underscores the way the species adapts readily to human-built structures. Such urban-adjacent nesting sites can complicate removal and increase the chance of encounters with people.

The nest was scheduled to be removed on the Friday following the discovery. "soll an diesem Freitag beseitigt werden." Coordinators had only days to organise the operation, which required specialists familiar with the species' defensive behaviour and protective equipment suitable for work at height under a roof overhang.

Beyond the immediate removal, monitoring around Eisenhüttenstadt is expected to continue into the following weeks. Beekeepers and officials typically set out traps and survey surrounding vegetation for further nests or foragers. Detecting any daughter colonies founded by queens that left the original nest before removal is a critical part of preventing the species from gaining a permanent foothold in the region.