Northern Ireland has confirmed its first sighting and capture of an Asian hornet.
One was located in the Dundonald area of Belfast on 10 October by a member of the public.
Its identity has been confirmed by Northern Ireland's Environment Agency (NIEA).
It follows recent finds in Cobh and Cork.
The species is a highly-effective predator of insects including honeybees, wasps and other important pollinators.
Due to its aggressive nature and feeding habits, it could have a serious impact on native insect biodiversity.
Stormont's Environment Minister Andrew Muir said: "This is a harmful species that I do not wish to see becoming established in Northern Ireland as it presents a serious threat to both biosecurity and local ecology, particularly valuable pollinating insects."
"On current evidence this is a solitary Asian hornet, but a departmental response is underway to ensure that no other Asian hornets are present," he said.
Otherwise known as yellow-legged hornet, the Asian Hornet is a harmful invasive species originating from east Asia and first recorded in Europe in 2004.
Individuals and nests are increasingly found in southern counties of England and two nests were found and destroyed in the Cork area earlier this summer.
NIEA officials have deployed specialist equipment and begun a monitoring programme involving live traps and a visual survey to determine if it is an isolated find.
If others are found there will be intensive monitoring to trace and remove any nest.
NIEA officials are being helped by colleagues from the National Biodiversity Data Centre, as part of the Shared Island Biosecurity and Invasive Species Initiative, drawing on the experience they gained from the recent Cork and Cobh finds.
