Watch out for the Yellow-Legged Hornet

by | Nov 29, 2025 | News | 0 comments

Biosecurity New Zealand is urging Aucklanders to be on the lookout for yellow-legged hornets (Vespa velutina) following the discovery of a queen hornet in the early stages of building a nest in the suburb of Glenfield.
The yellow-legged hornet is a biosecurity concern due to its potential impact on honeybee and wild bee populations and is dangerous for people too.
The latest update from MPI is here: Yellow-legged hornet sightings in Auckland in 2025 | NZ Government but sightings are ramping up with 29 queens found as of 1 Dec 2025 (see the map below).
For information on what to keep an eye out for, see the factsheet: https://bit.ly/3Lrep8E
The yellow legged hornet is really big, about twice the size of the common or German wasp or paper wasps. 
You can easily make your own hornet traps from a plastic bottle – hang them away from your house around your property and photograph & report any that you catch. Instructions on how to make a trap are here: https://www.mpi.govt.nz/dmsdocument/70823-How-to-make-a-homemade-hornet-trap-Fact-sheet
Any potential sightings of the yellow-legged hornet or a nest should be photographed, and reported online at https://bit.ly/3LreqcI or by calling the exotic pest and disease hotline 0800 80 99 66.
yellow-legged hornet map of trap locations 2025

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