Windust believed Biosecurity New Zealand’s response to the Auckland incursion has been inadequate.

He criticised delays after two male hornets were found earlier this year in the Auckland suburbs of Grafton and Albany. Windust said those signalled a nest survived last summer from which hundreds of queen hornets must also have dispersed.

So far, Biosecurity New Zealand has focused its efforts in Glenfield and Birkdale on Auckland’s Northshore, where residents found four queens and BioNZ has since set 135 bait stations.

Windust said effective containme