Scientists in Switzerland have begun testing unusual weapons to protect honeybees from an invasive predator. On the hills above Cornol in the canton of Jura, researchers are deploying electric harps and protective “muzzles” to shield beehives from Asian hornets.  These yellow-legged hornets, known scientifically as Vespa velutina, first arrived in Europe through France in 2004. Since then, they’ve spread across the continent, reaching Switzerland where they pose a serious threat to bee populations.  “This is the first time such trials have been carried out in Switzerland,” says Dr. Lukas Seehausen, a research scientist at CABI’s Swiss Centre in Delémont. “We … Continue reading Swiss Electric Harp Trial Fights Hornets Killing 30 Bees Daily