Got A Hornet Problem? Here’s How To Deal With The Invasive Species That Is Taking Over Malta
The oriental hornet, otherwise known as bagħal taż-żunżan, has been invading various places in the Maltese islands since its arrival.
Apart from posing great dangers to the endemic honey bee, it is also creating various problems for citizens all over the island, with one sting capable of landing someone in the hospital.
And while it’s often not advised to interfere with nature, it is being encouraged to kill as many hornets as possible, to avoid the eradication of the honey bee.
Lovin Malta has teamed up with Arnold Sciberras, an experienced pest control consultant in Malta, to hear more about this invasive species that is slowly taking over the island, and what one can do to combat it.
Let’s hear more about the oriental hornet
“We have been dealing with the oriental hornets, which is a species that is indigenous to the Mediterranean but somehow got back to the Maltese islands, probably through merchants’ cargo,” Sciberras explained.
“Unfortunately this species loves urban areas, and we have created the perfect habitat for them for this species to thrive. We’re building a concrete jungle full of cracks, crevices, holes, ventilators, and loose air condition pipes, and these are the perfect conditions for this species to build a nest,” he said.
“The problem is that this species is highly territorial and it will defend its nest at any cost. It is highly aggressive, if you go close to their nest within their territory, they will not hesitate to attack.”
Sciberras also explained how hornets can give you an epileptic shock, but their effect on the body can be different, depending on the age of the victim.
“We are overpopulated, everywhere is full of litter and garbage, and there are sources of protein on our streets such as cat food for stray cats. Obviously, all of this helps this explosion of oriental hornets to continue to expand,” he explained.
We’ve been seeing people laying out traps using glue – are these good?
“Being a professional in this field, I’m well aware of the dangers that these hornets bring with them. I’ve been stung a number of times,” he said, stressing that amateurs should not try to deal with these hornets themselves.
Sciberras urged people to not try to do this themselves, given that this dangerous species can easily land you in the hospital with just one sting.
The nest should always be eliminated first and foremost. However, if the nest cannot be located and hornets are being a nuisance around your property, there are special traps that can be used.
“We have formulated some special traps to catch them, which are host specific. We also spray trees to repel these species from staying next to the trees on your property,” he said.
“I am against the method of people placing glue as bait because these traps catch anything, including bees, and reptiles. Often they end up attracting more hornets around due to the food source, rather than killing them,” he stressed.
Ideally, the traps used to capture hornets should be professional, and specific to what is required.
“These traps are so specific that they will only kill hornets, and thus will not attract beneficial species such as bees,” he said.
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