Nest of invasive Asian hornets 'safely removed' in first for Ireland

"The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) completed the "safe control and removal" of the nest from a site in Cork city. It is the first recorded instance of a nest in Ireland, which posed a risk to native pollinators and commercial bee hives in the area. Sightings of the invasive species caused significant concern about potential impacts to the local area, and fears of the hornet spreading further into the country."

"The Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O'Sullivan, said: "Since the first confirmed sighting of an Asian hornet in the Cork city area, just over a month ago, the NPWS has been working tirelessly with experts from the NBDC, NMI and with local beekeepers to locate a nest. "Removing the nest today was a challenging, complex operation, conducted by NPWS officers for the first time in Ireland.""

"Responding to further sightings of the hornet across Cork City, Cobh and in Inchicore, Dublin, Mr O'Sullivan said: "I'd like to reassure everyone that each of these is taken very seriously and investigated thoroughly when reported." The Department of Housing said intensive surveying and track-and-trace are being conducted to investigate evidence of further activity. The nest was removed under strictly controlled conditions, following international best practice."

The National Parks and Wildlife Service removed an Asian hornet nest from a Cork city site under strictly controlled conditions. The nest is the first recorded in Ireland and posed risks to native pollinators and commercial bee hives. NPWS officers carried out a challenging, complex operation in collaboration with the National Biodiversity Data Centre, National Museum of Ireland and local beekeepers to locate and remove the nest. The nest has been transferred to the National Museum of Ireland for examination to investigate origins. The Department of Housing is conducting intensive surveying and track-and-trace for further activity. The public are asked to report sightings with photographs to the National Biodiversity Data Centre.

Read at Irish Independent