Asian hornets could 'wreak havoc', warn beekeepers
It comes after the recent sighting and capture of one of the insects in the Cork area.
The association's public relations officer said that an Asian hornet's preferred food is honey bees.
Colette O'Connor said the organisation is "very, very concerned".
"This insect is a carnivore. It's an apex predator. It has wreaked havoc in Europe."
This is the second time that an Asian hornet has been confirmed to be in Ireland, the other being in 2021.
Ms O'Connor said that if someone spots an Asian hornet, they should take a photo of it and report it.
A 2020 survey of 400 beekeepers in France, Spain and Portugal found that they spent just under €8m to protect their honey bees.
"It didn't actually stop the hornet wreaking havoc," said Ms O'Connor.
"It didn't take into account the huge number of beekeepers that in desperation gave up beekeeping, having seen what the insect did."
A member of the public spotted the Asian hornet that triggered the biosecurity alert, said Ms O'Connor.
"We don't know if it was the same one that was caught."
However, she said that she does not want people to panic, adding that the "very beautiful" Asian hornet is easy to distinguish from a wasp.
"It's much larger than our native wasps," she said. "It's dark black on its thorax and it has very bright yellow face.
"The fourth segment on its abdomen is a very bright yellow, mustard yellow.
"The bottom two-thirds of its legs are again, a very bright yellow."
She said the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the National Diversity Data Centre were able to confirm the insect spotted was an Asian hornet just from the recorder's "very good" photos.
Traps were put up in the area and an Asian hornet was found in one of these traps on Tuesday evening.
Ms O'Connor said there are still "lots of traps" on site and a circumference of traps around the area.
The Irish Beekeeper's Association is also making contact with a local beekeeper.
She said the Asian hornet caught will be examined at the National Museum to see if it is a queen.
Ms O'Connor asked truck drivers, people coming back to Ireland on ferries and ferry workers to familiarise themselves with what an Asian hornet looks like.
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