The First Record of Vespa velutina Lepeletier, 1836 in Algeria and Biocontrol Implications

This study reports the first record of the Asian hornet, Vespa velutina Lepeletier, 1836 (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) in Algeria. A single adult was collected in a garden in Birkhadem (36°43′30″N, 03°02′41″E; 140 m a.s.l.) in September 16, 2025. Identification was based on the morphological characteristics including a uniformly black mesosoma, an orange fourth abdominal tergite, and dark legs with yellow distal parts. The detection of V. velutina in northern Algeria extends the known distribution of this invasive species in North Africa. Considering its predatory behavior toward honeybees and its potential impact on ollinators, this finding highlights the need for early bio-surveillance, risk assessment, and the development of environmentally safe biocontrol strategies to prevent its establishment and spread