Invasive Asian Hornet Spotted in Northern Ireland, Raising Ecological Concerns

In a concerning development, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) has confirmed the first sighting of an Asian hornet in Northern Ireland. The invasive insect was captured on October 10, 2025, in the Dundonald area by a member of the public.

The Environment Minister, Andrew Muir, has stated that this is a solitary Asian hornet, but a departmental response is underway to ensure no other Asian hornets are present. Individual hornets and nests have been increasingly recorded in southern counties of England, while two nests were found and destroyed in County Cork earlier this summer.

While Asian hornets pose no greater threat to humans than native hornets, they do present a significant threat to native insects, particularly valuable pollinators. The hornets are known to feed on more than 1,000 species, including honey bees, bumble bees, butterflies, and beetles. The environment minister has expressed concern about the potential establishment of this harmful species in Northern Ireland, as it could have serious implications for the local ecology.

The NIEA has initiated a monitoring program involving live traps and visual surveys to determine if this is an isolated incident or if there may be a nest in the area. If additional Asian hornets are detected and confirmed, intensive monitoring will continue to trace and remove any nests, with ongoing monitoring to ensure no further Asian hornet activity.