Biosecurity alert after sighting in Cork

A biosecurity alert for Ireland has been issued after a confirmed sighting and subsequent capture of an Asian hornet in the Cork area.

Extensive monitoring will continue to determine if this is one individual insect, or if there is evidence it is part of a larger population.

Yellow-legged Asian hornets are seen as a significant threat to honey bees and other pollinators.

However, an Asian hornet does not pose a significant public health risk.

The Asian hornet is a wasp which is an invasive, non-native species.

It is about 2cm long, mostly black and brown with an orange face, orange tail and yellow legs.

The species is active between April and November, but especially in August and September.

The insect was spotted by a member of the public and was reported to the National Biodiversity Data Centre.

After being confirmed by both the National Museum and National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), a rapid response protocol was launched which led to an Asian hornet being trapped on 12 August.

The sighting has triggered a government led response with the establishment of a new taskforce called the Asian Hornet Management Group (AHMG).

The AHMG is chaired by the NPWS and includes the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine, the National Biodiversity Data Centre and the National Museum of Ireland.

The group will monitor the situation, gather further information and co-ordinate efforts in the upcoming weeks.

In a statement the Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD, said: “Asian Hornets are a threat to our native pollinators and our biodiversity.

“We must take even a single sighting very seriously.

“This incident shows us that members of the public are our eyes on the ground. Early detection is key if we are to prevent the establishment of this invasive species.”

This is the second verified identification of the Asian hornet in the Republic of Ireland.

The first identification was of a single Asian hornet in the Dublin area in 2021, but it was not associated with a wild viable population.