Asian hornet nest discovered in Cork City

An Asian hornet nest has been found in Cork City.

The nest was discovered near where one of the invasive insects were seen earlier this month.

The discovery by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) comes after an initial insect was discovered by a member of the public.

The Asian hornet's location was logged by the person on the National Biodiversity Data Centre's website along with a photograph.

Entomologists at both the National Museum of Ireland and NPWS then verified the sighting as being an Asian hornet, triggering a biosecurity alert and rapid response protocol.

The invasive species poses a significant risk to Irish honeybees.

Minister of State for Nature and Biodiversity Christopher O'Sullivan said the nest was found after extensive monitoring, but its precise location is not being revealed.

He added that the NPWS was working on the best way to remove it.

The NPWS said no evidence of a hornet nest or any other hornet activity was initially observed, but "subsequent surveillance led to the trapping of an Asian hornet on August 12". Thereafter, "extensive" monitoring took place to determine if this was a lone individual Asian hornet or if there was evidence of a larger population.

Following the sighting, a task force — The Asian Hornet Management Group (AHMG) — was established. Chaired by the NPWS, the AHMG also includes officials from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the National Biodiversity Data Centre and the National Museum of Ireland.

Mr O'Sullivan told RTÉ's Morning Ireland the nest was located following an "intensive effort" by the NPWS.

Anyone who suspects they have spotted an Asian hornet should not attempt to disturb or capture it. While they are not generally aggressive, they may sting if provoked.

The insect is native to Southeast Asia but has spread through Europe since being first identified on the continent in the south of France in 2004, when a single fertilised queen is suspected of having arrived in the country, hiding in a shipment of pottery from China.

In the years since, it has been found in several other EU countries and the UK, where efforts are ongoing to halt its spread.

To date, Ireland has remained largely free from this invasive species, and the sighting in Cork was just the second-ever verified sighting here. The first sighting of the insect in Ireland was in Dublin in 2021.

To date, Ireland has remained largely free from this invasive species, and the sighting in Cork was just the second-ever verified sighting here. The first sighting of the insect in Ireland was in Dublin in 2021.

Members of the public have been asked to report any suspected hornet sightings through the National Biodiversity Data Centre’s Alien Watch reporting portal. The portal includes sections where exact location co-ordinates and photographs can be added, if possible.