A community project to deal with butchers
A group of neighbors from the mountainous areas of Sarrià – Sant Gervasi has launched an ambitious initiative to control the population of Asian butcher wasps. With the support of the shortcut, a local community, and the insect expert Xavier Munill, 150 traps have been installed with a specific compound to attract and capture these wasps.
Strategic capture of queens
On February 7, the first trap was placed in Collserola, with the aim of capturing the wasp queens, which are the only ones that can be seen between February and May. Munill emphasizes the importance of removing these queens to prevent the formation of new nests. “Each eliminated queen represents a less nest in the future,” he says.
Maintenance and tracking of traps
The traps, which will be operational until October, will require constant maintenance. From June, the plan will include the capture of workers’ and males, with the aim of effectively reducing the population. The results of similar initiatives in other parts of Catalonia have shown promising.
A silent enemy of biodiversity
The Asian butcher’s wasp has found an ideal habitat in Collserola and other regions of Catalonia, and its presence represents a serious threat to local biodiversity, as well as for beekeeping and agricultural production. Munill warns that the goal is not to eradicate this species, but to control the population through integrated management.
Calls on citizen collaboration
The shortcut calls for the community to find volunteers who help with the maintenance of the traps. “Each trap needs to be renewed every two weeks,” says Jordi Puig, an ecology technician. Its participation is essential to guarantee the success of this project.
The threat of the eastern wasp
Unlike the butcher wasp, which has not prospered in southern Spain due to the climate, the Eastern wasp is expanding in these regions. Munill warns that this new species could be even more harmful, as it attacks bee colonies directly and is more aggressive in its diet. Its ability to nest underground makes it even harder to detect.
The future is uncertain if both species come to coexist in the same area. The community continues to work to control the situation and protect local biodiversity, waiting for citizen collaboration to be key in this struggle.