Trees and plants that attract Asian hornets in French homes
Avoid these trees if you want to remain hornet-free
Sugary fruit trees can draw the invasive insect into gardens
DKeith / Valentyn Volkov / Shutterstock
As Asian hornets – and the damage they wreak on bees and other insects – spread across France, awareness is growing of the kinds of plants and trees that should be avoided, as they attract the insects.
Asian hornets (Vespa velutina) first came to France in 2004 and have, since then, destroyed nearly a quarter of the country’s honey bee population. They can now be found nationwide, including in Corsica.
It is considered to be an invasive species, in contrast to the European hornet, which is sometimes seen as a positive influence on gardens as it helps to control other insects.
Some plants can attract Asian hornets and make their presence more likely around your home. Fruit trees, in particular, can prove irresistible to the hornets.
Trees bearing sugary fruit are some of the top targets, especially if some of the fruit has started to ripen on the branch, or fallen to the ground and become damaged or started to rot. This releases powerful fruit smells that attract the insects, who hatch primed ready to seek high-sugar sources of food.
Trees that are especially attractive to hornets include:
Fig trees
Plum trees
Vines
Apple trees
Pear trees
The trees are particularly attractive to the insects between summer and autumn, when the fruits reach maturity. Tree sap and flower nectar are also certain to attract more hornets.
If you have these kinds of trees around your home, you could choose to cut them, pick the fruit strategically, or even uproot and replant them further away, to avoid overripe plants from attracting too many hornets close to your home.
It is also important to monitor the health of your trees, as a healthier tree is better able to withstand ‘attacks’ from insects. You are also advised to pick or dispose of overripe fruit, to reduce the scent of ripe and fermenting produce.
Other plants that can act as hornet magnets include ivy, as it serves as a source of sugar and protein, which benefits both the hornet itself and its larvae. Yet, you are not advised to get rid of ivy altogether; the trailing plant can also be very beneficial to bees and other insects that are useful to the ecosystem.
Instead, planting it away from the house may help to keep the hornets away from your main living space without taking away its benefits to other, more welcome insects.
Other plants and elements that attract hornets:
Banana tree flowers
Japanese medlar
Weeping willows
Oak, and eucalyptus sap
Hornets may also use the trees to help them with hunting, as ants can become trapped in tree sap or syrup, making them a ready-made target for any passing hornet. If you see that a tree is ‘wounded’ and/or leaking sap, you can try to prevent hornets by using clay or sticky soil to seal the wound.
Luckily, hornets do not tend to be aggressive while they are eating, so even if you come across one on a fruit tree or a fruit, it is unlikely to hurt you.
Trees to plant instead
The best trees to plant to avoid hornets are those that have less powerfully-scented fruit, less accessible nuts, or no fruit at all. For example:
You can also help to prevent hornets by setting up traps a safe distance from living areas (some mairies even give them out for free). It is important to check them regularly, to ensure that the trap is not inadvertently attracting other insects.
One plant, the Sarracenia, is considered to be ‘carnivorous’ and traps hornets in its ‘long tube’ structure, which enables them to climb in, but not to climb out.
If you do notice nests and/or an infestation near your home, the advice is to not attempt to handle it yourself. You need to find a professional that has ‘Certibiocide’ certification. This guarantees that the removal operation will be safe and effective.
You can find a certified removal specialist near you by contacting your local Mairie.
Plants can often act as an attraction or repellent to unwanted insects, such as mosquitoes.
