By Matt Quinn
The growing presence of Asian hornets in Cork and further afield, looks set to be a crisis that could devastate pollinators, crops and potentially the beekeeping industry, as the non-native wasps have been reported in local areas such as Kildorrery, Araglin and Ballyhoura – this follows the discovery and removal of a second hornet’s nest in Cobh, county Cork.
Speaking to The Avondhu this week, former Public Relations Officer of the Native Irish Honey Bee Society (NIHBS) and beekeeper of Galtee Honey Farms, Aoife Mac Giolla Coda from Burncourt, was fearful of the rising threat of the Asian hornet and sceptical of plans to eradicate and control their rising spread.
“It has become an issue all across Europe. I don’t think we’ll be able to deal with them. The UK themselves have put millions of pounds into tackling this issue and it hasn’t been effective.”
Full story in this week’s Print & Digital Edition.
