Biosecurity New Zealand is continuing to ramp-up its campaign to locate and eliminate the invasive yellow-legged hornet, following confirmed detections on Auckland’s North Shore, and want to hear from anyone who has seen this insect to help confirm if there are others in the area.
Yellow-legged hornets (Vespa velutina) are a non-native pest hornet not known to be established in New Zealand. As of 18 November, 12 queen hornets, two workers, and seven nests have been successfully located and removed from the Glenfield and Birkdale areas.
Chair of the Policy, Planning and Development Committee, Councillor Richard Hills, says that everyone should be keeping a look out for these hornets this summer.
“We’re grateful that MPI has accepted our support to assist this work as they lead the response to tackling this invasive insect. While we’re hopeful the area is contained to the North Shore, we cannot be sure. So, we encourage all Aucklanders to be on the lookout for these hornets in and around their homes and also on their walks through our reserves and native bush.”
Kaipātiki Local Board Chairperson Danielle Grant encourages the community to take this seriously and support Biosecurity New Zealand in its response.
“Our community has worked hard to restore and protect the natural environment of Kaipātiki, so the detection of yellow-legged hornets is a concern we can’t ignore. These insects threaten the health of our bee populations and could disrupt the balance of our local ecosystems.
“Every report from the public helps experts zero-in on where the hornets are active, so if you spot a suspected hornet or nest, please take a photo and report it immediately to Biosecurity New Zealand.”
Samantha Hill, General Manager Environmental Services at Auckland Council reminds Aucklanders these hornets pose a risk to New Zealand’s natural environment and agriculture and urges the community to stay alert.
“The yellow-legged hornet is a serious biosecurity concern due to its potential impact on honeybee and wild bee populations as it primarily feeds on bees, wasps, and flies. It may also compete with our native insects and birds for food – and it has a painful sting.
“It’s really important that we all do our bit, stay vigilant and immediately report any sightings through to Biosecurity New Zealand. The best surveillance tool we have right now is people reporting any suspected hornets or hornet nests online at report.mpi.govt.nz or by calling the exotic pests and diseases hotline on 0800 809 966.”
What to do if you see a hornet or its nest
Don’t attempt to remove or control a suspected hornet nest yourself or spray a hornet or nest with insecticide. It is very important for Biosecurity New Zealand to know where the hornets are active. Any attempt to control them risks pushing them away, making it difficult to find and control them.
While it may be difficult, as they are strong flyers, try to take a photo of the hornet. Images are the best way for us to assess the valuable observations made by the public.
If you think you have found a hornet or its nest, take a clear photo and report it:
- online at report.mpi.govt.nz
- by calling the exotic pests and diseases hotline on 0800 809 966.
Can you spot the difference between hornets and common wasps?
Caption: From left to right, biggest to smallest: 1 Yellow-legged hornet, 2 German wasp, 3 Asian paper wasp, 4 Australian paper wasp.
The yellow-legged hornet has distinctive dark legs with bright yellow tips. In contrast, common wasp species in New Zealand, such as the German wasp (Vespula germanica), typically have uniformly yellow or yellow-striped legs.
The yellow-legged hornet is also much larger than honeybees and common wasp species seen in New Zealand.
Hornet traps
Biosecurity New Zealand has deployed hundreds of traps in areas that are being checked daily and continue to add additional traps in areas where queen hornets are found. Traps are now being placed out to five kilometres from detections.
You can also make your own trap at home – these may be effective in attracting hornets and other flying insects, but significant bycatch of other insects should be expected. As yellow-legged hornets only forage during the day and are not active at night, bycatch may be reduced by covering or removing traps overnight.
MPI suggests a formula of 400 g of sugar, 10 g of yeast, and 1 litre of water. You can also add 100 ml of beer to this mixture.
It’s also important to closely monitor any homemade trap and to be familiar with local wasp species that are not a concern in this response.
For more information, including a factsheet, information on building a home trap, and regular updates on hornet finds, visit MPI’s website: Yellow-legged hornet sightings in Auckland in 2025
