By Phil Lester* of
Photo: Biosecurity NZ
The first Asian yellow-legged hornets observed in Auckland in winter were two old and slow males. Many people were concerned and worried. Now, at the end of spring, what we've seen is a potential nightmare.
Over recent weeks, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) response team has discovered around two dozen spring queens and small nests across the suburb of Glenfield.
Unless New Zealand rapidly scales up its search effort, we could soon be confronting an incursion far tougher and costlier to stamp out. Or worse, we could end up with this pest as a permanent resident.
Overseas, nest densities can exceed 12 per square kilometre.
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