Asian Hornets Found: Second Nest Confirmed in Co Cork
- The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has confirmed the discovery of a second Asian hornet nest in Cobh, County cork,Ireland.
- The initial concern about a second nest arose after a single Asian hornet was sighted and captured in a Cobh residence earlier in the week.
- The distance between Cobh and Ballintemple is approximately 10 kilometers (6.2 miles).
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Second Asian Hornet Nest Discovered in County Cork, Ireland
What Happened?
The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has confirmed the discovery of a second Asian hornet nest in Cobh, County cork,Ireland. This follows the removal of the first confirmed Asian hornet nest in Ireland, located in the Ballintemple area of Cork City, on the previous day.
The initial concern about a second nest arose after a single Asian hornet was sighted and captured in a Cobh residence earlier in the week. NPWS Rangers confirmed the insect’s identity. The first nest, found in Ballintemple, was situated high within a sycamore tree, making detection difficult.
Key Facts at a glance
Distance and Implications
The distance between Cobh and Ballintemple is approximately 10 kilometers (6.2 miles). This is five times the typical foraging range of Asian hornets, immediately raising concerns among experts about the possibility of multiple nests in the region. The confirmation of a second sighting in Cobh further fueled these fears.
The NPWS utilized food stations in Cobh to attract hornets and monitor their movements. Crucially, the Cobh search benefited from the use of miniature electronic tracking devices, substantially accelerating the nest’s location.
Tracking Technology: A Game Changer
The efficiency of locating the Cobh nest highlights the advancements in tracking technology. The electronic transmitters, costing approximately €120 each, are attached to the hornets, revealing the nest’s location. This method contrasts sharply with the slower, customary triangulation technique used in Ballintemple, which involved marking insects with paint to estimate their flight paths.
While the Ballintemple nest took over two weeks to locate, the Cobh nest was found in approximately two days, demonstrating the effectiveness of the new technology.
| Location | Tracking Method | Location Time |
|---|---|---|
| Ballintemple | Triangulation (paint marking) | Over 2 weeks |
| Cobh | Electronic Tracking | Approximately 2 days |
What Does This Mean for Ireland?
The discovery of two Asian hornet nests within such close proximity is a serious growth. Asian hornets are invasive predators that pose a significant threat to honeybees and other pollinating insects. A decline in pollinator populations could have devastating consequences for agriculture and biodiversity.