Asian hornets tracked to nest near Ringaskiddy using miniature transmitters

The NPWS will remove the nest and continue monitoring the Cork area to establish whether any others are present

Safely removing the nest is an 'immediate priority', with the team continuing to monitor the area.

An Asian hornet nest has been located near Ringaskiddy following a major operation led by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).

Safely removing the nest is an “immediate priority”, with the team continuing to monitor the area.

Two Asian hornets were found this week, both dead and believed likely to have arrived in Ireland on a ship. 

There were fears the species could spread and pose a significant threat to Ireland’s biodiversity, as the insects can cause significant damage to other species, including pollinators such as bees.

Biodiversity minister Christopher O’Sullivan confirmed on Friday afternoon that the nest had been discovered following an operation involving miniature tracking transmitters attached to live hornets.

The technology enabled the response team to trace the hornets and pinpoint the location of the nest.

‘Speed is critical’

Mr O’Sullivan said: “In an operation like this, speed is critical. Once reports of Asian hornets were received, it was essential that every effort was made to locate the nest as quickly as possible.

“The use of this new technology has significantly strengthened our rapid response capability, allowing teams on the ground to track hornets back to their nest with remarkable efficiency.”

The Asian Hornet nest located on Friday.

He thanked NPWS conservation rangers, Cork County Council, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the National Biodiversity Data Centre for their expertise and speed.

“Our immediate priority is the safe removal of the nest and a thorough investigation of the surrounding area. Monitoring will continue over the coming days to ensure any further activity is identified and dealt with promptly,” he said.

Search for further nests

How to spot an Asian hornet

Niall O’Donnchú, director general of the NPWS, commended the team on the speed with which it located the nest.

“This is a very aggressive invasive alien species and the importance of finding the nest quickly cannot be overstated,” he said.

“Our teams will continue to work to establish that this is the sole nest in the vicinity and, again, we thank the public in Ringaskiddy and the Cork region for their vigilance, support and hospitality.”