The first sighting of an Asian hornet has been confirmed in Northern Ireland.
The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) said the insect was captured in the Dundonald area of Belfast “by a vigilant member of the public” on October 10th.
Northern Ireland’s minister for agriculture Andrew Muir said “current evidence” indicated it was a “solitary” Asian hornet, but work was under way to ensure it was not part of a nest.
A “harmful invasive species” originally from east Asia, the Asian hornet could have a “serious impact” on biodiversity in Ireland, the NIEA warned.
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Mr Muir has urged the public to “remain alert to the potential presence of this insect”.
The hornet is bigger than a common wasp, and has far less yellow in its body colouring.
A biosecurity alert was declared in the Republic of Ireland after an Asian hornet was captured in Cork in August.
According to the most recent update from the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) last month, so far there have been 36 verified sightings of Asian hornets in Cork and Dublin, with two nests found and destroyed in Cork city and Cobh. All the sightings in the Republic have been in Cork except for a single sighting in Inchicore, Dublin, last July.
Staff from the National Biodiversity Data Centre are assisting the NIEA with their response and sharing their recent practical experience of the recent location and removal of Asian hornet nests in Cork.
[ Asian hornets: 24 verified sightings in Cork and Dublin with two nests seizedOpens in new window ]
NIEA officials have deployed specialist equipment and a monitoring programme involving live traps and a visual survey is under way to determine if the Asian hornet sighted in Dundonald is an isolated individual or part of a nest.
The agency said that if other Asian hornets are detected and confirmed, “intensive monitoring will continue to trace and remove any nest, with monitoring afterwards to ensure that there is no further Asian hornet activity”.
The minister said the Asian hornet was “a harmful species that I do not wish to see becoming established in Northern Ireland as it presents a serious threat to both biosecurity and local ecology, particularly valuable pollinating insects.
“On current evidence this is a solitary Asian hornet, but a Departmental response is under way to ensure that no other Asian hornets are present.
“I am grateful to the Dundonald householder who captured and reported the Asian hornet and would urge the public to remain alert to the potential presence of this insect,” he said.
The NIEA has asked the public to be vigilant and report any suspect insects, ideally with a photograph, to DAERA via the Asian Hornet Watch appor via CEDaR invasive species online recording.
Suspected nests should not be disturbed but reported immediately, the agency said.
Meanwhile the Climate Change Advisory Council, in a biodiversity report published on Tuesday, highlighted the growing threat to native biodiversity from invasive species, with the identification of Asian Hornets in Cork and Dublin “a sign of accelerating ecological risk”.
It recommended the NPWS should deliver the long-overdue national invasive species management plan before the end of the year, with targeted actions to monitor and manage species of concern.
“Climate change is making Ireland more hospitable to invasive species due to milder winters and warmer summers,” said council member Prof Yvonne Buckley.
“These risks, identified as substantial by 2050 and critical by 2100 in the National Climate Change Risk Assessment, highlight the urgent need to strengthen our surveillance, control and management systems,” she said.
