Situation of Vespa velutina in the Iberian Peninsula
In Europe, Vespa velutina (Hymenoptera: Vespidae - Asian hornet) was first recorded in France in 2005 (see EPPO RS 2017/197). It is thought that this predator of bees was introduced with imports of goods (probably pottery) from China. In Spain, V. velutina was found for the first time in August 2010 near Amaiur (Navarra), and then in several other localities of the Gipúzkoa province (País Vasco). More recent studies have shown that the insect has continued to spread in Northern Spain, as it is now found in all 3 provinces of País Vasco (Alava, Gipúzkoa, Vizcaya). Some reports have also been made in Girona (Cataluña) although it seems that V. velutina is not established in this area. In 2012, a few specimens were found in some apiaries in Northern Portugal, in the municipality of Viana do Castello.
Finally, it can be recalled that this insect was first noticed in Northern Italy at the end of 2012, in the province of Savona (Liguria) (see EPPO RS 2013/168). A world distribution of V. velutina can now be viewed in EPPO Global Database:
https://gd.eppo.int/taxon/VESPVE/distribution.
Sources
Goldarazena A, de Heredia IP, Romon P, Iturrodobeitia JC, Gonzalez M, Lopez S (2015) Spread of the yellow-legged hornet Vespa velutina nigrithorax du Buysson (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) across Northern Spain. Bulletin OEPP/EPPO Bulletin 45(1), 133-138.
Grosso-Silva JM, Maia M (2012) Vespa velutina Lepeletier, 1836 (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), new species for Portugal. Arquivos Entomolóxicos 6, 53-54.