In the quiet charm of Finistère, Brittany, a remarkable story was unfolding—one that fused innovation with a deep love for nature. It all began with Denis Jaffré, a former sailor who found himself now immersed in the world of beekeeping. His peaceful life was suddenly turned upside down when he faced a serious threat to his hives: the Asian hornet, an invasive species notorious for decimating bee colonies across Europe and beyond. These relentless predators had already caused him to lose half of his hives—50 colonies wiped out in mere months. That devastating loss sparked something in Denis. Instead of accepting defeat, he decided to find a solution, not just for himself but for beekeepers everywhere—an effective, safe way to combat the menace of the Asian hornet.
That decision led Denis down a path of innovation. He dedicated himself to inventing a trap that could selectively target these aggressive hornets without harming other insects or disrupting local biodiversity. After countless experiments, failures, and adjustments, he finally created something that worked—an elegant, simple device with extraordinary results. His trap was so effective that it earned him a prestigious award at the Lépine competition in 2019, a key moment that catapulted his project from a personal mission into an entrepreneurial venture.
By 2021, Denis had founded Jabeprode, a company born from perseverance and a genuine desire to protect bees and local ecosystems. What started as a homemade invention, assembled in his living room, was now the product of a professional workshop in Bodilis, covering 480 square meters, where a team of seven dedicated employees works diligently to produce his traps at scale. The success has been staggering—his traps are now distributed across 18 European countries, from France and Belgium to Italy and Spain, with plans to expand further to the United States. The product’s reach continues to grow, and it’s not hard to see why.
The trap itself is remarkably simple but highly effective. It’s made up of a container filled with attractants that lure the queen and worker hornets, and a fabric-covered box with cones designed to fit the size of the Asian hornets’ queens. These cones prevent the other insects, like native bees and friendly pollinators, from entering or getting caught. The trap’s design leverages the hornets’ natural behaviors—enticing them inward with scent and then safely trapping only the targeted pests. It’s a device that respects biodiversity, employing a method that is both precise and environmentally friendly. Denis has emphasized repeatedly that his invention is not harmful to the ecosystem, a crucial aspect given the global concern over insect declines and the importance of pollinators.
Beyond just devising the trap, Denis is now actively working to promote ecological management of the Asian hornet problem. His plan includes launching a crowdfunding campaign to expand his production capabilities further and to acquire his current workshop space. But his ambitions don’t stop there. He also wants to educate the public and local authorities about safer, eco-friendly methods to remove hornet nests, particularly advocating for the controlled use of sulfur dioxide—a gas he believes is an effective and sustainable solution for nest destruction.
Denis’s story is inspiring because it shows how a personal crisis—losing half of his hives—can spark a movement toward innovation with far-reaching impact. His goal is to raise awareness about the dangers of the invasive species and the risk they pose not just to beekeepers but to agriculture and biodiversity overall. His product is making waves, attracting international attention and requests from across the Atlantic, especially from the United States, where the Asian hornet invasion is an emerging issue.
What makes Denis’s journey particularly compelling is his deep respect for nature and his commitment to sustainable solutions. His trap exemplifies a harmony between technological ingenuity and ecological responsibility. It’s a small device with profound implications—protecting bees, preserving biodiversity, and empowering farmers and environmentalists to take action against invasive species. His work reminds us that even in the face of formidable challenges, human innovation, rooted in genuine care for the planet, can turn the tide and create a safer, more balanced world.
