Biosecurity New Zealand is deploying a new tool in the fight against the yellow-legged hornet in Auckland.
Mike Inglis, commissioner north, says the agency will soon be using a locally developed protein-based insecticide bait that has proven extremely successful on wasps and is expected to be effective against the hornet.
"Targeting hornets with this product, called Vespex®, is a world-first, as unlike in other countries, New Zealand has no native wasps that are attracted to this bait, so native species won’t be harmed.
"Research has also shown that the product does not affect honeybees.
"Vespex® has low toxicity to mammals and birds, and they would need to consume a large amount of bait to show any symptoms of poisoning. The active ingredient, fipronil, is used in pet flea and tick products in higher concentrations than what we’ll be using."
Mr Inglis says the bait will be placed in special stations and visiting hornets then roll it into small balls and take it back to the nest where it poisons others.
Starting in mid-March, when hornets are looking for protein feed, bait stations will be set in the response ‘B’ and ‘C’ Zones, which are the surveillance areas furthest from where hornets are being detected on Auckland’s North Shore.
"We’re targeting these outer areas first to destroy any hornets that have so far evaded traps or sightings by the public. This gives us an extra layer of insurance.
"We will ultimately use the Vespex® in the central ‘A’ Zone where the hornets are concentrated, but we are holding off for now because we’re having great success tracking hornets to nests using visual inspections and radio trackers.
"In addition, we’ve had a new breakthrough using drone-based thermal imaging. Using this technology over an area where a suspected nest was present, we were able to locate a new secondary nest, adding another tool to our toolbox.
All of the activities being undertaken to get rid of this hornet are based on science and guided by the advice of a group of technical experts, many with experience managing yellow-legged hornets overseas.
"The yellow-legged hornet response is progressing well, and the end goal remains eradication, which is considered feasible."
