Alert protocol for the Asian vespa ‘Vespa velutina’

2023-09-11 01:10:19

The Generalitat has announced the implementation of an emergency action protocol after the identification, in the Castellón town of Vallibona, of a wasp specimen Vespa velutinain order to control and eradicate “the serious risk that this species included in the National Catalog of Invasive Exotic Species“, as reported by the regional administration in a statement.

Surveillance work to prevent expansion

Likewise, he highlighted that it has been decided to carry out “a series of surveillance tasks to prevent the expansion” of this insect.

The first confirmed case of this species in the Valencian Community “has put the Valencian beekeeping sector on alert, affected in recent years by massive imports from third countries, drought and little support from the administrations”

The Generalitat has highlighted that this has been “the first confirmed case in the Valencian Community of this species” and has pointed out that this “has put the Valencian beekeeping sector on alert, affected in recent years by massive imports from third countries, the drought and the lack of support from the administrations”.

From the general directorates of Natural and Animal Environment and Agricultural and Livestock Production, corresponding to the Ministries of Environment and Agriculture, respectively, the aforementioned emergency action protocol has been jointly prepared, the administration has detailed.

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Protection of beekeeping and agriculture

The objective is “the protection of beekeeping and agriculture in the Valencian Community.” The protocol establishes “guiding criteria for the control and, if possible, the eradication of the population of Vespa velutina and the species, as well as the impact in areas where it has been established, with efficient and effective measures, and while minimizing the effect on the rest of the species“.

The measures adopted also contemplate providing training on Vespa velutina to municipal staff, forestry agents, veterinarians, beekeepers, ranchers and farmers “to ask for their collaboration and so that they know how to act in the presence of wasps and their nests.”