The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) has confirmed the first confirmed sighting of an Asian Hornet in Northern Ireland.

The insect, also known as the Yellow-legged hornet, was captured by a member of the public in the Dundonald area of Belfast on Friday, 10 October.

The Asian Hornet is a harmful invasive species that originated in East Asia and was first recorded in Europe in 2004. It has since been increasingly recorded in southern counties of England, and two nests were found and destroyed in the Cork area earlier this summer.

The species is a highly effective predator of insects, including honeybees, wasps, and other important pollinators such as hoverflies. Its aggressive nature and feeding habits could have a serious impact on native insect biodiversity and pollination services across the region.

NIEA officials have immediately deployed specialist equipment and begun a monitoring programme using live traps and visual surveys to determine if this is an isolated individual or if a nest is present. If further hornets are confirmed, intensive monitoring will be used to trace and remove any nest.

Andrew Muir, Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), said: "This is a harmful species that I do not wish to see becoming established in Northern Ireland as it presents a serious threat to both biosecurity and local ecology, particularly valuable pollinating insects." He added that on current evidence it appears to be a solitary hornet, but a Departmental response is fully underway to ensure no others are present. The Minister expressed gratitude to the Dundonald householder who reported the hornet and urged the public to remain alert to the potential presence of the insect.

NIEA officers are being assisted by colleagues from the National Biodiversity Data Centre as part of the Shared Island Biosecurity and Invasive Species Initiative, benefitting from their recent experience with incursions in Cork and Cobh.

To ensure a rapid response, the NIEA published the Northern Ireland Rapid Response Contingency Plan for Asian Hornet in 2020. This plan is currently under review, along with the Invasive Alien Species Strategy for Northern Ireland.

The public are also urged to be vigilant and report any suspect insects, ideally with a photograph, to DAERA via the Asian Hornet Watch app at www.brc.ac.uk/app/asian-hornet-watch or via CEDaR invasive species online recording at www2.habitas.org.uk/records/ISI. Suspected nests should not be disturbed but reported immediately.

NIEA officers are being assisted by colleagues from the Shared Island Biosecurity and Invasive Species Initiative, benefiting from the practical experience they have gained from recent Cork and Cobh incursions.