Radio tracking technology has now enabled the detection of several yellow-legged hornet nests as the eradication response effort on Auckland’s North Shore continues to accelerate.

The technique - attaching tiny radio transmitters to worker hornets and tracking them back to their nests - has quickly become a core tool in the response programme. Once a transmitter is attached to a hornet, nests are typically being located within a few hours. Capability with the equipment is growing rapidly, helped by practical advice from visiting experts in hornet management from the United Kingdom.

See a video of a tracker being attached here.

The trackers, which complement on-the-ground surveillance and public notifications, will become increasingly useful as summer progresses and hornets begin building larger secondary nests high up in trees where they’re less visible to ground searchers. Three secondary nests have been located so far and after comprehensive planning, have been treated and removed.

The response team has located and destroyed 51 queens, 61 nests and hundreds of workers to date.

A network of more than 1080 traps is operating out to 11km. Read more here.