Invasive Asian hornet nest located in Cork

An Asian hornet nest was recently discovered near Ringaskiddy in County Cork, Ireland, following an urgent search operation led by conservation rangers from the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). The nest was located just hours after a live hornet was fitted with a miniature radio transmitter, enabling the rangers to track its movements back to its colony.

The search operation followed multiple sightings of Asian hornets foraging among ripened ivy near a disused building in the area. The Minister for State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O' Sullivan, emphasized the critical importance of swift action to address the threat posed by Asian hornets to native pollinating insects, such as honeybees and bumblebees.

Once located, the nest will be safely destroyed using a pesticide, followed by DNA analysis to determine the hornets' origin and any potential connections to previous sightings in Cork. The NPWS will also continue monitoring the surrounding area to determine if this is the only nest in the vicinity, as young Asian hornet queens depart their nests to overwinter and potentially establish new colonies in the spring.

This swift response demonstrates the effectiveness of the response procedures developed after the previous Asian hornet incursion in Ireland last year.