A nest of the Asian hornet has been found in Cork, RTE.ie reports. The discovery comes as wildlife teams in the county move into what has been described as a critical new phase of their operation to track down the invasive insect.
The search intensified after a second sighting of the predatory hornet within a single week, according to independent.ie. Cork Beo reports that wildlife crews tracked down the nest, while The Irish Times describes the effort to hunt the hornets as having entered a critical stage. The Irish Farmers Journal reports that an intensive operation is under way in Cork to locate the nest.
The Asian hornet is a non-native species that preys on honeybees and other insects. Its presence in Ireland has prompted coordinated efforts by wildlife authorities to find and deal with nests before the insect can establish itself more widely.
Details of the nest's exact location and how it will be handled have not been confirmed in the reports available. The scale of the response reflects the concern that a breeding population could take hold if the hornets are not contained.
Further updates are expected as the operation in Cork continues.
