Wasp and hornet stings in summer 2026: figures, emergencies and the right reflexes

The feeling of a wasp "invasion" this summer is not just perception: the peak of nest activity in July-August, combined with a mild winter and a favourable spring, puts the 2026 season under heavy pressure. And behind the benign stings, the numbers are heavier than you might think. According to the study published in March 2026 by Anses and relayed by Santé publique France, 179,141 ER visits and 256 deaths are attributable to wasp, hornet and bee stings over the 2014-2023 period. Here is what these numbers mean for you, when to call 15 and how to have a nest removed safely.

What the 2026 Anses study says

The assessment, the result of cross-referencing data from PMSI (hospitalisations), CépiDc (deaths) and the OSCOUR® network (ER visits), gives a precise picture of the risk over ten years:

• 179,141 ER visits for hymenoptera stings (stable over the period, with a peak in 2018).
• 18,213 hospitalisations, slightly up.
• 256 deaths identified, including 77% men and 62% in people aged 60 and over.
• Seasonal peak in July-August, particularly marked for hospitalisations and deaths.
• 13% of hospitalisations in intensive care, a share that is rising (17% in 2023).

In terms of distribution, wasps account for 37% of cases, hornets 25% (all species) and bees 19%. But severity is not proportional to frequency: hornets are responsible for 38% of serious cases while they only cause 25% of stings.

Why summer 2026 is riskier

Three factors are converging this season, confirmed by recent Météo-France bulletins and observations from regional FREDONs.

A mild winter followed by a warm spring

Fertilised queens that overwinter in a shelter (under a tile, in a woodpile, behind a shutter) survive better when temperatures stay mild. In spring, they found their colony earlier and grow it faster. The result: larger nests, more workers, and an activity peak advanced in July.

Longer summers

Climate change is extending the activity window: nests remain populous until October in the south, compared with an end of activity usually noted at the end of September. For stings, this means a longer exposure season, no longer just a peak centred on the school holidays.

More Asian hornets than before

The law of 15 March 2025 created a national control plan against Vespa velutina, officially presented on 27 March 2026. Spring queen trapping is now regulated, and beekeepers can be compensated. But field pressure remains strong, and the share of hornets in serious cases continues to rise.

Who is most at risk

Not all stings are equal. The risk of a serious reaction depends on three parameters: the person (allergic background, age, state of health), the amount of venom injected and the location (throat, face, area near an airway).

People allergic to venom

About 3% of the population has sensitisation to hymenoptera venom, but only a fraction has had a documented systemic reaction. For these people, a single sting can trigger anaphylactic shock within minutes. If you know you are allergic, always keep your adrenaline auto-injector (Anapen, Epipen, Jext) within reach, and report your background to your GP.

Children and the elderly

In children, the main risk comes from multiple stings (knocking over a nest while playing) and oral stings (sugary drink on a terrace, fallen fruit). In those over 60, Anses data show over-representation in deaths, often linked to cardiovascular comorbidities and a delay in calling for help.

Beekeepers and professionals

Beekeepers, farmers, landscapers, maintenance workers: these jobs expose workers to frequent stings, which paradoxically increases the risk of gradual sensitisation. Wearing suitable suits and an auto-injector at the workstation are reflexes that should be formalised in the single risk document.

When to call 15 or 112

The simple rule, taken up by Anses and the Haute Autorité de santé: at the slightest doubt, call. Three situations require an immediate call:

1. Allergic reaction: swelling of the face, lips or throat, difficulty breathing or swallowing, faintness, widespread hives, voice change. This is a potential anaphylactic shock: call 15 or 112 without delay.
2. Multiple stings: more than 50 bee stings or more than 10 wasp or hornet stings in an adult, and any multiple sting in a child or elderly person. There is a risk of systemic envenomation, even without a known allergy.
3. Sting in the mouth, throat or eye: local oedema can obstruct the airways within minutes. Do not drink, do not eat, call immediately.

For significant local reactions but without warning signs (redness of more than 10 cm, sharp pain, swelling that spreads over 24-48 h), call your GP or visit an out-of-hours medical centre.

The right steps after a sting

For an isolated sting without warning signs, four steps are enough in the majority of cases:

• Remove the stinger by scraping with a fingernail or a card (not tweezers, which inject the rest of the venom) if it is a bee. Wasps and hornets do not leave a stinger.
• Disinfect with soap or a mild antiseptic, then apply ice wrapped in a cloth for 10 minutes to limit swelling.
• Take a painkiller (paracetamol) and, in case of itching, an over-the-counter antihistamine (cetirizine, loratadine).
• Monitor for 24 to 48 hours: a local reaction up to 10 cm is normal and resolves spontaneously.

⚠️ In case of a history of allergy or general signs (widespread hives, faintness, breathing difficulty), do not stay alone and keep your adrenaline auto-injector within reach. If the situation evolves, call 15.

When and how to report a nest

A nest is not a medical emergency, but it becomes one as soon as it is within reach of people: under a terrace, in an air vent, in a roller shutter, at child height in a tree, or against the façade of a public building (school, restaurant, museum). Three steps:

1. Do not act yourself, especially at height or at night. Blocking the entrance, spraying with water or spray, shaking the branch: all of these trigger a collective attack.
2. Keep 5 metres away and prevent children and animals from approaching.
3. Report to your town hall (hygiene department or Cité Zen app depending on the commune) and call a CERTIBIOCIDE-certified professional. The cost of an intervention ranges from €70 to €150 depending on the size of the nest and access difficulty, and the destruction of an Asian hornet nest can be covered by certain communes or departmental councils.

For Asian hornet nests, the framework changed in 2026: the national plan specifies the responsibilities of communes, beekeepers and individuals, and sets out binding intervention protocols. Our full dossier on the 2026 national control plan for the Asian hornet details what changes in practice.

How a professional intervenes

Eliminating an active nest in the middle of the summer season requires specific equipment and products. An equipped professional works in a fully sealed suit (class 3), with a projection pole for high nests, or a vacuum device for ground nests. The treatment used is an approved biocide, with targeted action on adults and larvae. The intervention usually lasts 30 to 90 minutes, with a control visit 7 to 10 days later to check for any rebuilding.

For a wasp nest, see our guide on risks and safe removal, which details the signs of location and the right reflexes while waiting for the professional. For an Asian hornet nest, the visual recognition guide is available via our dedicated dossier.

AntinuisiblePro operates across all Île-de-France departments and neighbouring areas for nest destruction (wasps, European hornets, Asian hornets) and curative treatment after multiple stings. Discover our pest control services, our shop of repellents and traps and our intervention rates.

Key points for summer 2026

The risk linked to hymenoptera stings is not just seasonal: it follows a marked seasonal peak but remains present from April to October, with maximum risk in July-August. The 256 deaths recorded over 2014-2023 by Anses remind us that the majority of serious cases involve adults over 60 and allergic people who are poorly equipped. Three reflexes save lives: call 15 at the first general signs, keep the adrenaline auto-injector within reach if you are allergic, and never act alone on a nest. For the rest, suit, pole and approved biocide remain the winning trio for the professional.

An active nest near your home, a suspected multiple sting or an allergic background to protect? Contact our experts for a free assessment or, in an emergency, request a rapid intervention: our CERTIBIOCIDE teams operate 7 days a week in Île-de-France.