A yellow-legged hornet. Photo: Biosecurity NZ
A fourth yellow-legged hornet queen has been found in Auckland.
The Ministry for Primary Industries said they confirmed the hornet on Monday, after it was found on the weekend.
It brings the total number of hornets found to six, including four queens and two males. Three of the queens were found in Glenfield, and the other was in nearby Birkdale.
Biosecurity New Zealand north commissioner Mike Inglis said there was staff on the ground in the Birkdale and Glenfield area on Auckland's North Shore, "providing residents with clear information about the hornet, including a leaflet drop to thousands of local households".
"To date, we've had an excellent response from the public to our media, social media and website material about the hornet, and what to look out for. We are quickly responding to all calls and reports made through our online reporting tool."
Inglis said the two nests that have been found were removed swiftly by biosecurity officers.
However, a conservationist has slammed Biosecurity's response to the arrival of yellow-legged hornets, calling it "hopelessly inadequate".
Conservationist Brad Windust estimated the hornet species has likely been on our shores for many months, and its population could now be in the hundreds, putting New Zealand's honeybees at risk - including our 27 native bees and other native insects.
He said Biosecurity only had one shot at getting the invasive hornet population eradicated this summer.
The hornets put New Zealand's bees and other native insects at risk and could devastate the agriculture sector, Windust said.
The public is advised to report a specimen or clear photo of a suspect hornet and a possible hornet nest to their website or pest and disease line 0800 80 99 66.
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