An Asian hornet nest has been located near Ringaskiddy, County Cork, after an intensive search led by Ireland's National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), Agriland reports. The invasive species is a major threat to pollinators, and reports of hornets in the area over the previous week had prompted the operation.
The team attached miniature tracking transmitters to hornets, which let them follow the insects back and pinpoint the nest. NPWS director general Niall O Donnchu said the nest was found "within a matter of hours of tagging a subject Asian hornet", proof that the time spent developing the protocol last year was well spent.
"In an operation like this, speed is critical," said Christopher O'Sullivan, Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, adding that the new technology has significantly strengthened the country's rapid response capability. The priority now is safe removal of the nest and a thorough check of the surrounding area, with monitoring to continue in the coming days.
The response involved NPWS rangers, Cork County Council, the Department of Agriculture and the National Biodiversity Data Centre. O'Sullivan said the operation showed the importance of early detection, public reporting and rapid action against invasive species.
Photo: Siga / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Source: Agriland
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