As Biosecurity New Zealand continues to ramp up its response to yellow-legged hornet (Vespa velutina) detections on Auckland’s North Shore all growers - especially those in Auckland - are urged to be on the lookout for yellow-legged hornets or nests, especially in any hives they may have on their property.

Report sightings immediately to Biosecurity New Zealand on 0800 80 99 66 or make an online report here.

This hornet is not a pest of kiwifruit but does seriously threaten honeybees which could impact our access to pollination services. KVH is actively monitoring the investigation and is in daily contact with Biosecurity New Zealand as they respond to these detections. ensuring next steps are in the interests of growers being able to maintain access to sufficient levels of pollination services in future seasons.

As at 11 November, staff working fulltime on the response include incursion investigators, laboratory staff, and people working in the field, engaging with the community, and carrying out surveillance.

A plan of work is under way that includes:

• 142 traps laid in targeted areas where females have been found. Every trap is checked daily. No hornets have been found in traps to date.
• Enhanced on-the-ground surveillance in the areas where the queen hornets have been found that involves visual inspection of common nesting areas such as trees, roof eaves, fence lines, and other potential habitats.
• A trial will start soon using protein bait traps in addition to those already out. Protein traps will increase over the summer months when hornet activity is expected to rise.
• A Technical Advisory Group (TAG) of independent scientific experts with expertise in the biology, ecology, and management of social wasps. The TAG will consider options for ongoing work.

Since 17 October, Biosecurity New Zealand has confirmed and safely removed five queen hornets and their nests – four in Glenfield and one in Birkdale.

• One queen has been confirmed one queen in the past week after a public notification.
• A queen and two males are also suspected (but not confirmed) based on photographs provided.

Biosecurity New Zealand is aware of members of the public taking previously published photos of the hornet and posting them on social media, with claims it is a new discovery, making confirmation from photographs alone unviable. If anyone suspects a find, report it immediately so a sample can be collected.

We will keep you updated with any new information on our dedicated hornet detection web page here.