Xesús Feás was involved in delivering a course for Spanish firefighters to help prevent the spread of the Vespa velutina Asian wasp.

​Spanish regional government organizes a course aimed at offering a "greater efficiency" in the intervention of the Vespa velutina 

​During the week commencing 27th March 2017 firefighters of the Government of Cantabria, Northern Spain took part in a course to help prevent the spread of the Vespa velutina Asian wasp. The theoretical part of this course was delivered by Xesús Feás, a scientific researcher specializing in the observation of 'Vespa velutina' and methods for controlling the invasive species.

In Northern Spain the Vespa velutina has become a big problem and during 2016 the emergency services received 2636 calls about the Vespa velutina resulting in 2600 nests being discovered 

During the week a total of 132 personal attended the course where the firefighters were trained to identify the primary and secondary nests of the Asian wasp and to try out actions for the removal of the nests at sometimes 25 meters high.

The Minister of Presidency and Justice, Rafael de la Sierra, attended one of the courses as this is now a huge concern for the Government of Cantabria and for the agricultural economy. Therefore, he has insisted on the need to "put all necessary means and joint actions to stop their spread". He also stressed on the danger of interventions with Asian wasps, a specimen that is poisonous and whose sting can pierce the usual clothes of beekeepers, hence the clothing worn by emergency services should have greater resistance. There is also the added difficulty of most nests being at a high altitude and the need for specialist apparatus required for their removal. The practices that firefighters perform during the removal are executed at about 25 meters in height.

This news was published in vive campo where you can read more...  http://www.vivecampoo.es/noticia/bomberos-112-se-forman-luchar-avispa-asiatica-11561.html
​And further news can be found at http://www.elperiodico.com/es/sociedad/20170327/los-bomberos-de-cantabria-perfeccionan-sus-competencias-para-luchar-contra-la-avispa-asiatica-5930326 
​or at https://www.mituin.com/articulo/los-137-bomberos-autonomicos-aprenden-a-eliminar-los-nidos-de-avispa-asiatica
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