Who are we?

We are a group of beekeepers who care about the potential impact of the invasive Asian or Yellow-legged Hornet (Vespa velutina) on the biodiversity of Ireland and, in particular, the Native Irish Honey Bee (Apis melliferia melliferia). This group was set up by a group of recent graduates from the Diploma in Apiculture (Beekeeping) course in the University of Galway.

How did we start?

This all started from a conversation we had in October 2023. We were concerned about the impact on honey bees, and were unclear if the government had any plans to address the threat of the Asian Hornet. This was emphasised by the impacts on France and Jersey, as well as the large number of hornet nests found in the UK during 2023.

In 2021, the first Asian Hornet was found in Ireland but it did not survive. It is only a matter of time before it arrives here again, so we need to act now before it is too late.

In the next few months, we hope to publicise the impact the Asian Hornet has on bees and other pollinators, how to recognise an Asian Hornet, and what to do if you see one. We also plan to work with Biodiversity Ireland and the National Park and Wildlife Services (NPWS) on this issue.