Operation under way to remove Asian hornet nest in Cork

An intensive surveillance and monitoring operation to locate and remove an Asian hornet nest in the Ringaskiddy area of Co Cork is now underway according to the Minister for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O'Sullivan.

The operation, which is being conducted by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), was escalated following the successful capture of a second Asian hornet yesterday close to the location where an initial specimen was photographed by a member of the public late last week.

The Minister said this second capture is a significant development and suggests that a nest may be present nearby.

The response from the NPWS has now moved into a critical phase, with specialist bait stations being deployed to track and trace any further hornet activity and pinpoint the nest location as quickly as possible.

Once a specimen is captured alive, conservation rangers will attach a tiny transmitter to its back to follow its movements in the expectation that the hornet will lead the rangers back to the location of its nest.

Mr O’Sullivan said the use of this latest transmitter technology has proven highly successful in other countries, including the UK, and gives the best possible chance of locating the nest before the species can establish itself.

"We know from our successful response to last year's incursion that early detection and rapid intervention are absolutely critical. Using the latest science, technology and expertise, we are moving swiftly and decisively to protect Ireland's biodiversity and our native pollinators from this invasive species," he said.

It is important that any nest can be located and neutralised quickly before any young queen hornets depart at this time of the year.

If they get out, they will spend winter outside the nest before starting new colonies of their own in the spring.

Asian hornets are an invasive apex insect predator that feed on pollinators and particularly like to eat honeybees.

Irish honeybees have no experience of such a predator and so, are very exposed.

It is estimated that a single Asian hornet nest would consume about 11kg of pollinator insects in a single season.

Mr O'Sullivan said he wants to thank members of the public whose vigilance helped to bring this issue to the attention of the NPWS.

He added that public awareness remains one of the strongest defences.

"I would encourage anyone who believes they may have seen an Asian hornet to report it immediately through the website www.invasives.ie," he said.