Asian hornet map: the 12 French departments to watch closely

One Saturday in September, a meal in a garden in Gironde comes to an abrupt halt: a dark shape keeps circling above the pear tree. The children head indoors, the adults look up, and everyone asks the same question: could it really be an Asian hornet? In recent years, this scene has played out repeatedly, from the Atlantic coast and the valleys of south-western France to areas increasingly 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 caution has become part of daily life. Some areas, moreover, account for far more reports than others.

The western seaboard remains the centre of the red zone

On the French Asian hornet map, one broad western strip stands out at once: it begins in the South-West, runs through the Charentes and extends into the Pays de la Loire. Nests can be concealed in poplars, 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 frequently identified as high-pressure areas 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 ranking: reports, trapping campaigns and weather conditions can change the data from one season to the next.

Gironde and Lot-et-Garonne hold a distinctive position in this geographical pattern because the species became established in the South-West very early, following its accidental arrival in France at the beginning of the 2000s. Its spread is driven by its strong adaptability, the large number of founding queens and favourable landscapes. A flower-filled garden, an orchard and a water source can unintentionally make an excellent neighbourhood for this invasive species.

Map of the 12 departments requiring close attention

To interpret this map without becoming alarmed, it is important to separate the presence of Asian hornets from an immediate danger. In the most affected departments, residents are more likely to see Asian hornets in spring and at the end of summer, when colonies reach their greatest size. The pressure is often most apparent around apiaries, markets, patios, fruit trees and wooded areas bordering housing estates.

The 12 departments often regarded as the most exposed, showing a marked progression from the South-West to 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, Île-de-France and several eastern departments are also seeing increasing 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 move along 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: hardly anyone checks the tops of trees every day before taking out the bins or trimming a hedge.

If you find a nest, the right response prevents serious trouble

When a nest is spotted, the first priority is to keep away from it and ensure that neither children nor animals can get close. Do not shake the branch, throw anything at it or attempt to burn it: such actions may trigger a collective attack, particularly in late summer. Take a photograph from a safe distance, record the exact location and contact your local council, 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 often wrongly blamed. Asian hornets generally have a very dark thorax, a mostly brown-black abdomen with an orange band, and yellow leg tips. Calm identification is preferable to a rushed intervention, particularly when a nest appears to be active.

Beekeepers in the most affected departments often make the same point: protecting hives requires consistency rather than 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 shared by many local control networks.

• Report the nest to the local council or local reporting platform, where one is available;
• Avoid any homemade insecticide treatment near homes;
• Use a properly equipped professional, especially where the nest is high up or hidden;
• Check what support is offered by the council or local authority grouping.

A local threat that changes how we look at our gardens

The map of the 12 most affected departments should not become a map of fear. Instead, it underlines that the Asian hornet is now an established reality across a large part of the country, with especially dense hotspots in the South-West and West. Every reliable report enables local authorities, beekeepers and nest-removal businesses to target their work more effectively, rather than chasing rumours or blurred photographs shared on social media.

In one street, a nest may go unnoticed all summer before becoming visible as the leaves fall. Elsewhere, a small queen seen in spring might be detected early enough to restrict the formation of a colony. Vigilance is not heroic: it often comes down to a neighbour giving a warning, an observant walker or a gardener prepared to ask for advice. These modest actions create a different kind of map too-one that is far more human.

Key point	Detail	Benefit for the reader
Most affected departments	Strong presence from the South-West to the Greater West, particularly in Gironde, Lot-et-Garonne, Charente-Maritime and Vendée.	Identifies the areas where vigilance needs to be strengthened.
Recognising the risk	An active nest must never be approached or destroyed using improvised methods.	Helps prevent multiple stings and dangerous reactions.
The right response	Photograph from a distance, report it, then leave the work to a professional.	Enables useful action without putting your family or neighbours at risk.