A New Front in the Battle Against Invasive Hornets: The fight against the yellow-legged hornet in New Zealand is escalating, and it's bringing some seriously high-tech tactics to the table. But how exactly are they planning to stop these buzzing invaders? Let's dive in!
Biosecurity New Zealand is gearing up to deploy advanced tracking technology, imported from the Netherlands, to hunt down these hornets and, crucially, find their nests.
So far, the situation is concerning: over half of the 30 queen hornets discovered on Auckland's North Shore showed signs of nest-building.
But the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) is ready to turn the hornets' own nest-building obsession against them.
According to North Commissioner Mike Inglis, the strategy will center on male worker hornets. The plan involves capturing male hornets and attaching tiny tracking devices, complete with a small antenna. This will allow experts to follow them back to their nests.
"It's like a small tracking device with a small antenna on it, which can go onto the male hornet and again, we then trace that back at particular times of the day or night back to the nest," Inglis explained.
This technology has already proven its worth in the United Kingdom.
The timing is critical, as the hornets' nesting behavior is about to change in the coming weeks.
Biosecurity NZ will also introduce a bait poison called Vespex. This bait will be placed in protein traps, and if the male hornets take it back to the nest, it will eliminate the nest's inhabitants.
"So it's a mixed approach, we make sure that we're belt and braces, so a bit of trapping, a bit of surveillance, the electronic sort of tagging of the hornets as well as doing the work that we're doing all guided by that technical advisory group and scientific evidence," Inglis stated.
Spreading the Word: The public has been incredibly responsive, with almost 4400 notifications received to date.
Inglis will be speaking at a forum hosted by Tauranga Moana Biosecurity Capital (TMBC), bringing together national experts to discuss the ongoing yellow-legged hornet response. The aim is to spread awareness, not just in Auckland but across the North Island.
TMBC, which was founded in 2018, plays a vital role in keeping its members and the wider community informed about biosecurity threats like the yellow-legged hornet.
"As a neighboring region to Auckland, we are closely following all information, guidance, and updates released by MPI regarding the yellow-legged hornet, and we continue to share relevant advice to support a coordinated, informed response," said TMBC comms and event manager Natalie Rutene.
TMBC will host an online Partners Forum to discuss the issue, covering the current operational response, potential impacts on various industries, and guidance on how individuals and organizations can support early detection and reporting. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and hear from leading experts.
But here's where it gets controversial...
What do you think about the use of advanced tracking technology and bait poisons? Do you believe this is the most effective approach, or are there other methods that should be considered? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
