'Geelpoothoornaar' is the new Dutch name
The Dutch name for the Asian hornet has officially changed to geelpoothoornaar. What changes in practice?
Since early 2026, the species formerly known in Dutch as 'Aziatische hoornaar' (Vespa velutina) is now officially called geelpoothoornaar. The scientific name is unchanged. The renaming was implemented to reduce confusion with other invasive species and align with international conventions. In practice, nothing changes for reporters or specialists: same species, same approach, same risks. On this site we use both names interchangeably, since many people still search for 'Asian hornet'.