The discovery of multiple Asian yellow-legged hornet queens and nests across Glenfield has triggered warnings that New Zealand is running out of time to stop the pest from becoming permanent.
Experts say MPI’s current containment zone is far too small for a species known overseas to spread tens of kilometres a year, and early signs suggest the Auckland incursion is already larger than first thought.
Hornets devastate honey bees, crops, and export horticulture. In Europe, established populations have wiped out 30 to 80 percent of hives. They can also injure people, with stings causing severe reactions and, in rare cases, fatalities.
MPI teams are now finding more queens, not fewer. According to ecologist Phil Lester, “the more we search, the more hornets we find.” He says that trend must reverse quickly or the country could be facing a costly, long-term infestation.
The government has increased staff numbers, but experts argue the search radius needs to expand dramatically across Auckland. Overseas, year-to-year jump distances show nests appearing kilometres from previous detections. Some studies estimate early invasion spread rates of up to 30 kilometres annually.
Tools like Vespex, which have been effective against invasive wasps, may help, but only if nests are found in time. Majorca remains the only place to fully eradicate the species — and it took six years of intensive ground searches and community reporting across 800 square kilometres.
The public is now being urged to watch for hornets and report any sightings immediately. Experts say eradication is still possible, but only if the search effort is scaled up fast.
Sightings could be reported: