Adapted Koldo Belasko trap: a promising tool to reduce yellow-legged hornet pressure on beehives

The European beekeeping sector is facing serious challenges due to the accidental arrival of the yellow-legged hornet (Vespa velutina Lepeletier, 1836). This invasive species undermines honeybee colonies and disrupts the workers' ability to forage effectively. Various control methods are currently used to manage this invasion. In this study, we evaluated the performance of a trap adapted from the design proposed by beekeeper Koldo Belasko, hereafter referred to as the Adapted Koldo Belasko (KBA) trap. We set up KBA traps across several apiaries within the Girona area (Catalonia, northeastern Spain) during 2023. The traps consistently captured high numbers of V. velutina and showed relatively high selectivity regarding non-target captures, particularly in the case of species smaller than V. velutina. These findings are highly relevant to the beekeeping sector and regulatory authorities, as they highlight how the KBA trap can help to prevent colony losses. Overall, the KBA trap is presented as a sustainable and environmentally friendly, for integrated hornet management in beekeeping.