Risk to New Zealand from hornets<\/p>\n
The yellow-legged hornet is a biosecurity concern due to its potential impact on honeybee and wild bee populations.<\/p>\n
It primarily feeds on bees, wasps, and flies. It may compete with native insects and birds for food, and it has a painful sting.<\/p>\n
How can you help?<\/p>\n
Report any sightings of suspected hornets or hornet nests. You can make a report:<\/p>\n
online at report.mpi.govt.nz <\/a> Only report or call the 0800 809 966 hotline if you have:<\/p>\n a specimen or clear photo of a suspected hornet Identifying nests<\/p>\n Yellow-legged hornets build large nests (up to 80 cm tall), often high in trees or under eaves.\u00a0<\/p>\n However, early embryo nests created by queen hornets at the beginning of the spring season can be as small as a tennis ball and may appear within a couple of days.<\/p>\n Do not disturb any suspected nest. Take a photo and report it to Biosecurity New Zealand.<\/p>\n A queen yellow-legged hornet develops an embryo or primary nest (pictured). Worker hornets raised in the primary nest build a larger, secondary nest during the summer. Photo credit: John de Carteret \u2013 Jersey<\/p>\n Identifying yellow-legged hornets<\/p>\n The yellow-legged hornet has distinctive dark legs with bright yellow tips. In contrast, common wasp species in New Zealand, such as the German wasp (Vespula germanica), typically have uniformly yellow or yellow-striped legs.<\/p>\n The yellow-legged hornet is also much larger than honey bees and common wasp species seen in New Zealand.<\/p>\n \u00a0Close-up view of a hornet<\/p>\n Image description \u2013 show\/hide<\/p>\n A close-up view of a hornet, showing its features with text labels:<\/p>\n Head black from above can be completely yellow in different sub species. [End of description]<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Hornets are larger than common wasps From left to right, biggest to smallest: 1 Yellow-legged hornet, 2 German wasp, 3 Asian paper wasp, 4 Australian paper wasp.<\/p>\n Fact sheets<\/p>\n
\nby calling our exotic pest and disease hotline on 0800 809 966.<\/p>\n
\nfound a possible hornet nest.<\/p>\n![\"Hornet](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Yellow-legged-hornet-nest-Photo-credit-John-de-Carteret-Jersey.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Close-up](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/yellow-legged-hornet-diagram__ResizedImageWzUyNSwzODhd.jpg\")
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\nThorax velvety brown-black.
\nFirst few abdominal segments with narrow yellow band.
\nFourth abdominal segment yellow.
\nFemur and tibia black.
\nTarsi yellow.<\/p>\n
\n![\"One](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/comparison__ResizedImageWzYwMCwyNTJd.png\")
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