Procedure

When a nest is observed
Step 1

Choose your Region

Start by selecting the relevant Region. Guidance and reporting channels vary depending on the location.

Region

Flanders

In Flanders, the official report is made via VespaWatch. On private land, the owner organises nest management. In public space, contact the municipality or the competent services.
  • Asian hornet nest in Flanders
    • Step 1 : enregistrez le nid sur VespaWatch.be.
    • Private land? yes / no
      • Yes – on private land:
        The owner manages the nest and contacts a pest control company if necessary.
        → Voir la liste : Vespa Alert partner pest controllers
      • No – public space:
        Contact the municipality and the fire brigade in case of immediate danger.
    • If the nest is located in a sensitive area such as a school, nursery, hospital, nursing home, apiary or busy park, classify it as high priority.

Report a nest in Flanders

Region

Brussels-Capital

In Brussels, private land and public space follow two different channels: Vespa Alert for private land, Fix My Street for public space.
  • Asian hornet nest in the Brussels-Capital Region
    • Emergency situation? yes / no
      • Yes:
        Call 112 immediately.
        The fire brigade intervenes free of charge only in life-threatening emergencies or when the situation makes a place inaccessible.
        In all other cases, the intervention is chargeable.
      • Non : poursuivez selon la localisation du nid.
    • Nest location?
      • Private land:
        Report the nest via Vespa Alert.
        The owner or occupant calls a pest control company if necessary.
        → Official Brussels list: trained pest controllers in Brussels
        → Complementary Vespa Alert list: Vespa Alert partner pest controllers
      • Public space:
        Report the nest via the Fix My Street application so that the report is sent directly to the competent services.
    • If the nest is near a school, nursery, nursing home, hospital, busy park or apiary, classify it as high priority.
Brussels – legal obligation
If a nest causes a nuisance, the owner, manager or tenant must have it removed or neutralised. Failing this, the competent authority may intervene ex officio, at the owner’s expense.

Source: General Police Regulation – art. 36. View the regulation (PDF)
BE decision tree
Brussels Environment provides a decision tree for the reasoned management of the Asian hornet: urgency, public space, private land, risk areas, period, nest type and neutralisation method.

It helps distinguish the correct channel: Vespa Alert for private land, Fix My Street for public space. View the Brussels Environment decision tree

Report a nest on private land

Report a nest in public space

Region

Wallonia

En Wallonia, le nid peut être signalé via Vespa Alert. En cas de danger vital, appelez le 112 ; en cas de situation urgente mais non vitale, appelez le 1722. Sur le domaine public, la prise en charge dépend du gestionnaire du terrain ; pour le domaine public régional : invasives@spw.wallonie.be.
  • Asian hornet nest in Wallonia
    • Step 1 : enregistrez le nid sur Vespa-Alert.be.
    • Emergency situation? yes / no
      • Yes:
        • Life-threatening danger → call 112.
        • Urgent but not life-threatening → call 1722.
      • No: continue according to the location.
    • Nest location?
      • Private land:
        The owner contacts a pest control company.
        → Liste Wallonia / CRA-W : Asian hornet operators map
        → Complementary Vespa Alert list: Vespa Alert partner pest controllers
      • Municipal, provincial or regional public land:
        Si le nid se trouve sur le domaine public et est construit à moins de 5 m de hauteur, l’intervention peut être prise en charge par le service public compétent, selon le gestionnaire du terrain : commune, province ou Service public de Wallonia.
        For nests on regional public land, the request can be sent to: invasives@spw.wallonie.be.
        Learn more
      • Other public land or specific situation:
        Contact the land manager or the municipal environment department to identify the competent service.
    • If the nest is near a school, nursery, nursing home, hospital, busy park or apiary, classify it as high priority.

Report a nest in Wallonia

Decision trees

Regional procedure in Belgium

This page helps direct a report according to the region, urgency and type of location. Never attempt to destroy a nest yourself.

Useful reporting information

Note the address, the nest support, the estimated height and add a photo taken from a distance. This information helps direct the report to the correct channel.

Role of Vespa Alert

Vespa Alert records reports to improve Asian hornet monitoring and make information available to the relevant stakeholders.

Role of local authorities

Intervention depends on the municipality, the Region, the land manager and the competent services.

Local groups

Local “Vespa Hunter” groups

Local groups can help share useful information, organise searches, locate nests and guide citizens to the right channels so that destruction is carried out by competent actors.

Local Vespa Hunter groups help gather information by neighbourhood, municipality or search area. They can be useful to follow observations, share field advice, locate nests and facilitate their destruction by competent services or recognised professionals.

These groups do not replace competent services, local authorities or professional pest controllers. They are a complementary citizen network to improve territorial vigilance.

Useful links

Les liens vers les groupes locaux Vespa Hunter sont centralisés sur la page “Useful links”.

View Vespa Hunter groups
Safety

What you must not do

These actions can increase the risk of attack or make intervention more difficult.

Do not shake the tree, hedge, cornice or support where the nest is located.

Do not use water jets, smoke, foam, household insecticide or improvised methods.

Do not block the nest entrance: this may trigger a defensive reaction.

Do not approach to photograph the nest. Use zoom and keep your distance.