Source: Radio New Zealand
A hornets’ nest. Supplied
Spraying to eradicate the yellow legged hornet is not currently in Biosecurity New Zealand’s plans.
Biosecurity New Zealand North Commissioner Mike Inglis told Morning Report international and domestic experts continue to advise they target the use of traps.
More of the invasive pests and their nests were found over the weekend, meaning 10 queens and two worker hornets have been located in the Auckland suburbs of Glenfield and Birkdale in the last month.
North Commissioner Mike Inglis said they had a clear plan.
“At this stage, the advice is not to spray both in terms of the efficacy of the spray and also the potential impacts in the wider community.
“We’ve got independent scientific experts from companies that have successfully managed these incursions as well as our own internal expertise.
“With the nests and particularly the workers, that’s part of the plan and expecting that over the next four weeks to 12 weeks. So again, that’s why we’ve put more staff on the ground.”
Inglis said they have also responded by increasing the amount of carbohydrate and protein bait traps to more than 200.
He said they were going to extend the trapping out to five kilometres from where the concentration of hornets had been found, and that more expert help was on the way.
“We’ve got a specialist coming across from the UK as well as introducing potentially tracking technology, and that tracks the hornets back to their nest. So that’s the next stage that we’re continuing to work through.”
“We’ve got sufficient staff in that area. We’ve ramped up over the last week and we’re getting support from our industry partners, regional councils, Department of Conservation to make sure that we continue to stay on top of this.”
“Our intent is to eradicate this hornet. We’re in a good space based on the technical advice, but we’ve got to keep pushing on and that’s what we’ll continue to do.”
The difference between hornets and wasps. Supplied
Inglis continued to praise the public’s help, saying they had received nearly 3000 notifications from Aucklanders.
He said he was confident the predatory insects, which hunt honeybees, remained confined to Glenfield and Birkdale.
“We’re still focused on that area, and through our ramped up efforts last week, that’s where we found the further two nests.”
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
