Asian Hornet: Map of the 12 Departments to Watch Closely

One Saturday in September, lunch comes to an abrupt halt in a garden in Gironde: a dark shape keeps circling above the pear tree. The children go indoors, the adults look up, and everyone asks the same question: is it really an Asian hornet? In recent years, this scene has been repeated from the Atlantic coast to the valleys of south-western France, before spreading ever further north and east. The level of risk is not the same everywhere, but the arrival of Vespa velutina has altered everyday habits in many villages. A map of the most affected departments shows where vigilance has become part of daily life. Some areas also account for far more reports than others.

The west coast remains at the centre of the high-risk zone

On maps showing the Asian hornet in France, a broad western strip immediately stands out. It begins in the South-West, extends through the Charentes and reaches the Pays de la Loire. Nests can be concealed in poplar trees, beneath roof overhangs, inside a laurel hedge or at the top of an oak tree that nobody pays much attention to until autumn. We all know how an unusual buzzing sound near a patio can suddenly make the atmosphere feel more tense.

The 12 departments most regularly identified as areas under strong pressure are Gironde, Lot-et-Garonne, Landes, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Dordogne, Charente, Charente-Maritime, Deux-Sèvres, Vendée, Loire-Atlantique, Maine-et-Loire and Gers. This vigilance map is not a fixed national league table: reports, trapping campaigns and weather conditions mean the data can change from one season to the next.

Gironde and Lot-et-Garonne hold a particular place in this distribution because the species became established in the South-West very early on, following its accidental arrival in France in the early 2000s. Its spread is linked to its strong ability to adapt, the high number of founding queens and favourable landscapes. A flowering garden, an orchard and a water source can unintentionally provide an excellent neighbourhood for this invasive species.

Map of the 12 departments requiring close Asian hornet monitoring

To interpret this map without giving in to panic, it is important to separate presence from immediate danger. In the worst-affected departments, residents encounter more Asian hornets in spring and late summer, when colonies reach their largest size. Their activity is often more noticeable around apiaries, markets, patios, fruit trees and wooded areas bordering housing estates.

The 12 departments frequently considered the most exposed, showing a marked spread from the South-West towards the Greater West, are: Gironde, Lot-et-Garonne, Landes, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Dordogne, Gers, Charente, Charente-Maritime, Deux-Sèvres, Vendée, Loire-Atlantique and Maine-et-Loire. Brittany, Normandy, the Île-de-France region and several eastern departments are also affected by rising numbers of reports; they are simply not all subject to the same level of pressure in local observations.

This geographical concentration also reflects a very practical reality: hornets do not stop at administrative boundaries. They follow green corridors, valleys, transport routes and food sources. A neighbouring department may have a quiet season, then see several nests appear within a few weeks. Let us be honest: nobody really checks the tops of trees every day before taking out the bins or trimming a hedge.

Finding a nest: the right response prevents serious problems

If a nest is spotted, the first step is to keep well away and stop children and pets from approaching it. Do not shake the branch, throw objects at it or attempt to burn it: these actions can trigger a collective attack, particularly in late summer. Take a photograph from a safe distance, note the precise location and contact your town hall, a local contact person or a specialist pest-control company.

The most common mistake is misidentification: a large striped insect is not automatically an Asian hornet. The European hornet, which is useful to the ecosystem and lighter in colour, is regularly blamed wrongly. Asian hornets usually have a very dark thorax, a mainly brown-black abdomen marked by an orange band, and yellow tips on their legs. Calm identification is preferable to a rushed response, especially where a nest appears to be active.

Beekeepers in the departments most affected often make the same point: protecting hives requires consistency, not dramatic measures.

“A nest destroyed at the right time can prevent the dispersal of many future founding queens, but the work must remain professional,” is a principle echoed by many local control networks.

• Report the nest to the town hall or local reporting platform where one exists;
• Avoid any home-made insecticide treatment near homes;
• Call in a properly equipped professional, particularly if the nest is high up or hidden;
• Check what financial support may be offered by the local council or inter-municipal authority.

A local threat changing how we view our gardens

The map of the 12 most affected departments should not become a map of fear. Instead, it is a reminder that the Asian hornet is now an established reality across much of the country, with especially dense hotspots in the South-West and West. Every reliable report helps local authorities, beekeepers and pest-control firms target their efforts more effectively, rather than chasing rumours or blurred photographs shared online.

In one street, a nest may go unnoticed throughout the summer before becoming visible as the leaves fall. In another, a small queen seen in spring may be identified early enough to restrict the formation of a colony. Vigilance is not heroic: it often comes down to a neighbour raising the alarm, an observant walker or a gardener willing to ask for advice. These modest actions also create a map, one with a far more human character.