Autumn campaign against Asian hornet begins in Cahors

The Municipality of Cahors has launched an autumn campaign to control the Asian hornet population, which will last until November 18. This initiative aims to capture the queens before winter to reduce the species' spread in the area.

Traps placed in public areas

Ten traps have been installed in public spaces since October 15. These are placed in locations where nests have been commonly found, such as parks, a stadium, a university center, and parking lots across the city.

Natural bait used in traps

The traps use a mixture of beer, cassis syrup, and white wine in equal parts. The City describes this as a natural attractant for hornets, though the design allows smaller insects to escape while preventing the captured hornets from doing so.

Monitoring and data collection

A local company, Taup-là, collects and counts the captured hornets weekly. This data will help assess the effectiveness of the campaign. The City has been testing methods to control the Asian hornet since 2022 and has run trapping campaigns since 2025.

Past trapping results

In the first year of the campaign, 100 queens and 500 worker hornets were captured in the ten traps. By spring 2026, the numbers had increased to 31 founding queens and 615 workers, indicating a growing population.

Public involvement in nest removal

The Municipality also destroys nests found on public land. Residents can report nests in public spaces through a phone number, email, or app. For nests on private property, owners must contact a professional directly.