Kiwis are encouraged to continue to keep an eye out for yellow-legged hornets (Vespa velutina) over the holiday season.

There has been a great response from the public so far, with more than 6,870 notifications and the response team will be working over the holiday season as we continue to track and eradicate the hornet.

To date, we have found 38 queen hornets, and 25 of those hornets have been found with nests.

Intensive ground surveillance work and operations across Auckland’s North Shore to find hornet nests has been working well with more than 6,540 ground surveys completed, and that will continue as we move through summer.

Based on overseas experience, the science tells us that we may find more hornets over the next few months.

We now have more than 780 traps in place out to 11km from where the hornets were found in Glenfield and Birkdale.

The international experts guiding our response are providing the most up-to-date advice and information about the hornet and that is feeding into our work.

Next month, with the help of visiting hornet experts from the United Kingdom, Biosecurity New Zealand will look to attach advanced trackers to hornets so they can be traced back to nests. Short footage of the trackers being trialled can be seen here.

As the weather continues to warm, hornets can start to make bigger nests high up in trees and this technology from the Netherlands will help us find and destroy them alongside our continuing surveillance work on the ground.

If the public can continue to keep an eye while they are enjoying their Christmas break, that will help the work we are doing.

All growers - especially those in Auckland - are urged to be on the lookout for yellow-legged hornets or nests, especially near 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.

There is also a video and various resources available on our dedicated response page here.