Hornet worries
Leading Waikato beekeeper Sarah Cross is angry with the Government’s response to the arrival of yellow-legged hornets in New Zealand.
Hornet’s nest with larvae. Photo: Son Hoa Nguyen, pexels.com
Biosecurity New Zealand has found five yellow-legged hornets, including three queens, in the Auckland suburb of Glenfield.
A single hornet can kill between 25 and 50 honeybees in a day.
“All beekeepers are concerned,” said Waikato Beekeepers’ Association member Cross.
“We are concerned that they are only just finding yellow-legged hornets now. How long have they been in New Zealand and why has nobody noticed?”
The Ministry for Primary Industries is asking the public to keep a lookout for the hornets and their nests. The hornet has distinctive dark legs with bright yellow tips and is much larger than common wasp species seen in New Zealand.
The Ministry says the nests created by queen hornets in spring can be the size of a tennis ball and may appear within a couple of days.”
“The Government does not seem to be doing very much at all,” Cross said.
Ōtorohanga beekeeper Natalie Southgate is among those concerned.
Fearing the incursion may be widespread, many beekeepers have begun building their own hornet traps.
Cross’s criticism followed comments from conservationist Brad Windust who called the response “hopelessly inadequate” and warnings from Comvita chief executive Karl Gradon who said the incursion could devastate the honey industry.
