Switzerland trials muzzles and electric harps against Asian hornets

Scientists have fitted several beehives in Cornol in canton Jura with electric harps and muzzles to electrocute and stop Asian hornets. Their aim is to test the effectiveness of these systems. Nine beehives on the heights of Cornol in Ajoie are part of a project run by the International Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences (CABI) in partnership with the Fondation rurale interjurassienne (FRI), as reported in Le Quotidien Jurassien on Tuesday. Three of them were fitted with electric harps with alternating positive and negative wires. Asian hornets trying to cross them touch two wires and are electrocuted, while the bees, which touch only one, are unharmed. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox Three other hives have been fitted with muzzles. These are fences that placed in front of the hive entrances, where the Asian hornets like to hunt. With these devices, they can't get near them. The bees are therefore not paralysed by their presence and can continue to ...