The public is urged to be vigilant and report any suspect insects, ideally with a photograph, to DAERA
The first Asian Hornet nest discovered in Northern Ireland has been successfully removed.
The nest was discovered in the Dundonald area, close to the first confirmed sighting of the species.
The Asian Hornet is an invasive species which poses a threat to the honeybee and other native insects and pollinators.
The first Asian Hornet was dicovered in the UK in Glouchester in 2016. The species was spotted in the Republic of Ireland in 2021 and the first nests uncovered in Cork in August this year.
A DAERA spokesperson said: “The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) has successfully completed the safe and controlled removal of an Asian Hornet nest in Dundonald today (18 October), close to the location of the first reported sighting on 10 October.
“This is the first occurrence of such a nest in Northern Ireland. The Asian Hornet poses a significant threat to honeybees, native insects, pollinators and local ecosystems, as well as crop production which relies on pollinators. “The operation was led by NIEA officers (Invasive Non-Native Species Team), using the services of a suitably trained pest control company, with advice provided by the UK Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) and on the ground support from an official from the National Biodiversity Data Centre in Waterford through the Shared Island Biosecurity and Invasive Species Initiative. “Surveillance will continue in the area to monitor any Asian Hornet activity.
“NIEA urges continued vigilance amongst the public and beekeeping community, and reporting of any suspected sightings via the Asian Hornet Watch app or CEDaR.”
The public is urged to be vigilant and report any suspect insects, ideally with a photograph, to DAERA via the Asian Hornet Watch app at https://www.brc.ac.uk/app/asian-hornet-watch or via the CEDaR invasive species online recording at http://www2.habitas.org.uk/records/ISI.
Suspected nests should not be disturbed but reported immediately.
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