The municipality of Vila Real is combating the expansion of the Asian hornet, also known as the velutina wasp. The GESVESPA DOURO project, led by CIM Douro and financed by POSEUR 2014/20, is in full swing, with the strategic placement of traps throughout the municipality.
These traps were placed in specific locations to capture founding wasps, which emerge from hibernation and are responsible for the formation of definitive nests, identified by the population. Furthermore, the detection and elimination of primary nests has already begun. The nests, small in size, around 10 cm in diameter, are found mainly in urban and sheltered areas, such as porches and garages.
Alexandre Favaios, vice-president and councilor for Civil Protection, highlighted the importance of these actions: “Early detection of these nests is crucial to reduce the number of permanent nests during the species’ breeding season. So far, 43 traps have been installed. 200 planned”.
The Asian Wasp poses a threat to bees and other native pollinating insects and is a growing concern in the region. Therefore, the activities of the GESVESPA project aim to prevent the spread of this invasive species, through continuous detection, surveillance and control.
