In a press release sent to the Lusa news agency, the Cantanhede Municipality (in the Coimbra district) notes that the number of eliminated nests “has been increasing,” rising from 497 in 2022 to 607 in 2023, 791 in 2024, and 793 in 2025.

“This trend is explained, in part, by the population’s increased awareness and recognition of the presence of Vespa velutina (commonly known as the Asian hornet), a result of the information and awareness-raising campaigns promoted by the Municipal Civil Protection Service,” the statement reads.

The highest number of identified *Vespa velutina* nests has been recorded, “consistently over recent years”, in the parishes of Cantanhede and Pocariça, a fact attributed to “the higher population density of these localities.”

Most nests are found in trees, hedges, or on the ground, the municipality notes, pointing out that during the first six months of this year, “it has been common to identify and eliminate nests in homes and other buildings, as these are the locations where founding queens build primary nests, where the colony’s first brood develops.”

The Municipality indicates that the control operations carried out by the Municipal Civil Protection Service rely on reports from citizens and other entities; once a report is logged in the incident management platform (FLOW), “the team assigned to this service travels to the site as soon as possible to carry out the intervention following a preliminary assessment.”

The Municipal Civil Protection Service also sets traps during the period when queen wasps emerge from hibernation and begin building primary nests, aiming to capture the majority of them and thereby “prevent or reduce the development of further colonies.”

“These procedures allow for full control over the interventions to be carried out, as well as the status of each registered nest,” it notes.

In the same statement, the Cantanhede City Council adds that it intends to “continue the work it has been carrying out since 2015,” while reiterating its request for the public to report Asian hornet nests.

Reports should be made by calling 231 423 818 (between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday) or by emailing proteccao.civil@cm-cantanhede.pt.