Aucklanders urged to stay alert for yellow-legged hornets

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

Since 17 October, Biosecurity New Zealand has found 4 confirmed queen hornets and safely removed their nests. Three were detected in Glenfield and one in Birkdale, about 1.3 km from the initial detection in Glenfield.

Yellow-legged hornets pose a biosecurity risk because of their potential impact on honeybee and wild bee populations.

Members of the public are asked to report any sightings of suspected hornets or nests, but only if they have a specimen, a clear photo of the suspected hornet, or have found a possible hornet nest.

Reports can be made through report.mpi.govt.nz or by calling Biosecurity New Zealand’s exotic pest and disease hotline on 0800 809 966.

🔍 Identifying yellow-legged hornets:
The yellow-legged hornet has distinctive dark legs with bright yellow tips. In contrast, common wasp species in New Zealand, such as the German wasp (Vespula germanica), typically have uniformly yellow or yellow-striped legs.

The yellow-legged hornet is also much larger than honey bees and common wasp species seen in New Zealand.