The beekeeping sector in Lleida has issued an alert regarding the unstoppable advance of the Asian hornet (velutina), an invasive species that poses a serious threat to beehives. Professionals in the sector criticize the insufficient resources and the delay in implementing measures by the Generalitat to contain this plague.
According to beekeepers, the traps distributed by the Generalitat arrived late, as many queens had already established new colonies. A beekeeper from Llardecans noted that last September saw "extraordinary pressure" in Les Garrigues, with double the number of queens detected, and this year's figures are expected to be even higher. In just a few days, a single trap has captured a dozen queens, a number that can reach hundreds or thousands by September.
“"We are facing a serious problem, and the Generalitat's aid is arriving late. Collaboration with the Rural Agents is essential for effective control."
The Lleida Beekeepers Association considers the 700 traps that the Generalitat plans to distribute across Catalonia, about 16 per region, to be completely insufficient. They argue that 8 to 10 traps are needed per farm, covering the territory every 300 to 500 meters for effective control. The head of beekeeping at Unió de Pagesos added that the Generalitat's acquisition of materials has started late, and regulatory procedures have exacerbated the delay.
Affected beekeepers are calling for greater involvement from the Rural Agents and warn that, without effective control, the Asian hornet's impact will extend to other crops, such as vineyards. The best strategy to capture velutinas is to install traps with an attractive liquid in early spring, an action that, they claim, has not been carried out with the necessary speed.
