Alerta Velutina

Alera Velutina is a mobile application to monitor the temporal variations in the abundance of the Asian wasp (Vespa velutina) in apiaries distributed throughout Catalonia. Quantifying these changes is important to monitor the impact that the Asian wasp is causing, as well as to identify and understand the causes behind these changes at a temporal and spatial level. This information is key to prevent and manage the damage caused to this species in the beekeeping sector.

The operation of the application is very simple. After registering a settlement and indicating its location at municipal level, the beekeeper will be able to start counting Asian wasps in the registered apiary. The beekeeper will stand in front of a moth and, after activating the app's timer, will start counting wasps flying in front of the box for 30 seconds. This process can be repeated as many times as desired, generating many records over time.

People who participate in the project will be able to consult their data through the mobile application or the associated website (alertavelutina.net), seeing graphically the evolution of the Asian hornet in their settlements. Based on the information provided by different beekeepers from different parts of Catalonia, real-time information will be available on the expansion of the wasp in the territory and the abundance in each place.

Alerta Velutina has been developed by the University of Girona (UdG) and the Forest Science and Technology Center of Catalonia (CTFC), thanks to a grant from the Department of Climate Action, Food and Rural Agenda from the European Agricultural Development Fund Rural (Technology Transfer Operation 01.02.01 of the Rural Development Program of Catalonia 2014-2022).