Podcast
The yellow-legged hornet – lessons from overseas beekeepers
30 Aug 2026
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Yellow-legged hornets pose a significant threat to honey bee colonies. While New Zealand's biosecurity response efforts are providing reasons for optimism, overseas experience offers important lessons on how colonies, beekeepers and industries adapt when hornets arrive. In this episode of Scigest, scientist and host Andrew Dare speaks to Dr James Sainsbury, who recently completed a research project developing a yellow-legged hornet readiness guide for the apiculture industry. They discuss what we can learn from overseas experience and how this research can support New Zealand’s current biosecurity response. If you think you’ve seen a yellow-legged hornet, take a photo and report it to MPI by calling 0800 80 99 66 or emailing info@mpi.govt.nz. For more information and to see photos of the hornet please see the MPI information page here: https://bit.ly/Y-LH
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Sustainable, resilient food supplyBiosecurity and crop protection
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Dr. James Sainsbury
I am an applied scientist with a drive to create positive impacts for the apiculture industry. I have a PhD in molecular ecology and joined Plant and Food Research in...
Dr. Andrew Dare
Kia ora, I am a molecular biologist and biochemist passionate about improving the chemical composition of fruit to benefit human health and wellness . My research focuses on understanding the...