An Asian hornet nest has been located in Cork after an intensive search and investigation.

Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan has confirmed that an operation led by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has successfully located the Asian hornet nest near Ringaskiddy, Co. Cork.

The discovery follows reports of the Asian hornet in the area over the past week and is a step forward in efforts to contain and eradicate the invasive species which poses a huge threat to pollinators.

The operation involved the use of miniature tracking transmitters attached to hornets, enabling the response team to rapidly trace and pinpoint the location of the nest.

Minister O’Sullivan said: “In an operation like this, speed is critical. Once reports of Asian hornets were received, it was essential that every effort was made to locate the nest as quickly as possible.

"The use of this new technology has significantly strengthened our rapid response capability, allowing teams on the ground to track hornets back to their nest with remarkable efficiency.

"I want to thank the NPWS Conservation Rangers, Cork County Council, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the National Biodiversity Data Centre for their swift and coordinated response.

"Their expertise and dedication were instrumental in locating the nest so quickly. I’d also like to thank the community in Ringaskiddy for their hospitality and cooperation during this operation."

Asian Hornet nest

The minister outlined that the immediate priority is the safe removal of the nest and a thorough investigation of the surrounding area.

Monitoring is expected to continue over the coming days to ensure any further activity is identified and dealt with promptly.

"This operation demonstrates the importance of early detection, public reporting and rapid action in managing invasive species and protecting Ireland’s biodiversity," Minister O'Sullivan added.

Director general of NPWS, Niall O’Donnchú said:

“I want to commend the entire team, led by regional manager, Daniel O’Keefe of the NPWS, for the alacrity with which they were able to find this nest. And all within a matter of hours of tagging a subject Asian hornet. 

"This is a very aggressive invasive alien species and the importance  of finding the nest quickly cannot be overstated.

"Our teams will continue to work to establish that this is the sole nest in the vicinity and, again, we thank the public in Ringaskiddy and the Cork region for their vigilance, support and hospitality.”