Hornet: description and lifestyle, species, habitat, bite danger

Often in May, when you go outside, you can see a large wasp, which accompanies its flight with a loud buzzing sound. Most likely, this is a hornet - an insect that mistakenly causes fear among ordinary residents. In fact, it is absolutely safe: these dipterans prefer to feed on plant juice and other sweet delicacies.

Photos of hornets on the Internet should help you become more familiar with the appearance of these insects and distinguish them among many similar breeds.

What do hornets look like? (photo and description)

These representatives have different height parameters from 18 millimeters to 35. One of the largest is about 55 millimeters in length. In their structure, one can note a large head and a prominent crown. The compound eyes are located at the back. The color of the head is presented in a wide color palette - from black to yellow. They are also characterized by a striped abdomen, thin wings, strong jaws and large eyes.

Eastern hornet

A large insect, queens are up to 3 cm long, working hornets are up to 2 cm. The difference between this species is a wide yellow stripe that runs along the abdomen and a yellow spot on the head. Like all hornets, this species has two large and three small eyes and powerful jaws.

Eastern hornet

These large wasps live in North Africa, Madagascar and southern Russia. They are found in steppe and desert areas, so nests are built underground. These hornets are predators and feed on insects. Their bites are toxic; they attack people when their offspring are at risk.

Why is the hornet called that?

The roots of the word come from the Latin Vespa crabro (literally translated as “hornet wasp”). The common hornet is a species of large wasp that lives in Europe. It is larger in size than the common wasp, but smaller than the Asian hornet. In everyday life, hornets are called differently: “pirates”, “winged corsairs”. If we consider the meaning of the word hornet, then it means “evil man”, “obstinate”, Old Russian (srshen), Russian cer - Slavic (strashen), Polish (szerszen). In the 19th century, the genus Vespa was divided into two genera: hornets (vespa) and wasps (vespula), which means small wasp.

Habitat of the Asian hornet

Representatives of this species live mainly in forests near water sources. It is almost impossible to detect the insect in the steppes, foothills and deserts. The Asian hornet is found in the following countries:

• Japan;
• India;
• China;
• Taiwan;
• Sri Lanka;
• North and South Korea;
• Thailand;
• Nepal.

In 2022, the insect was discovered in Canada on Vancouver Island and the USA in Washington state.

In Russia, the Asian hornet lives in the Jewish Autonomous Region, Primorsky and Khabarovsk Territories.

Where do hornets live?

The main part lives in the North of the globe. They can be observed in many parts of the planet. These insects have adapted well to warm Asian countries. European hornets live in agricultural areas, as well as in forests, thickets of groves, and large bushes. They like to build nests in toilets, on verandas, and in summer houses. They are also easy to find under stairs or in window openings. The vespin subfamily, living in the mountainous regions of Japan, is one of the most dangerous. In the Primorsky Territory of Russia you can find several species of these insects.

The largest hornets in the USA

The hornet invasion in the United States was reported in The Guardian. Nests of huge insects were found in the city of Blaine, which belongs to the state of Washington. All three groups of hornets were located no more than 3 kilometers from each other. Representatives of the Department of Agriculture managed to destroy two nests, the third should be eliminated soon. The process takes place in two stages: first, the insects are collected using a vacuum cleaner, and then the nest itself is removed from the tree. The sections of wood used by the hornets are sent to the laboratory for analysis. During the next study, scientists found that in one of the nests there were about 1,500 hornets.

Man in front of a hornets nest

What do hornets eat?

They love rotten trees and stumps. But their favorite food is rotting berries. They prefer foods that contain a large amount of sugars (tree sap).

They can feed on other insects (wasps, bees, grasshoppers). They kill them with their poison and then chew them with powerful jaws. Hornets attack apiaries, destroying entire colonies. They are attracted to the scent of honey bees. Some types of hornets look for dead insects and are even ready to feast on food waste (meat products, fish).

How to destroy an Asian hornet nest?

A common mistake is trying to destroy a nest without taking personal protective measures. It is in such cases that attacks by Asian hornets can be fatal. Thus, a special beekeeping suit is required to destroy the nest. It is recommended to carry out the procedure at night, because at this time insects are less active. There are several effective ways to destroy a nest:

• pour boiling water over the nest (it is important to consider that this will require at least 20 liters of water);
• set fire to the insects' home, after pouring it with flammable liquid;
• drown the nest in water (the method can only be used if the hornets’ home is attached to a horizontal surface from below, so it can simply be dipped in a bucket of water and the structure supported with any support);
• Wrap the nest in a plastic bag, spray a strong insecticide inside and immediately tie the edges of the bag tightly so that the poison and insects remain inside.

When using insecticides, you must wear a respirator. In the fight against insects, preference should be given to chemicals designed specifically to kill hornets.

It is also important to consider that the number of Asian hornets has decreased markedly. For this reason, the Asian hornet is listed in the Red Book. In addition, some countries impose a significant fine for destroying the nests of this insect.

The Asian giant hornet is a dangerous insect whose bite can be fatal. For example, in Japan, about 40 people a year die from its bite. For this reason, if you are heading to an area where the Asian hornet is found, take the necessary safety precautions. And if you are nevertheless attacked by an insect, you need to immediately take the necessary measures and consult a doctor.

Reproduction

As soon as the weather changes and the sun begins to warm up, the female hornet is actively looking for a place to hatch her eggs. She flies over large areas in search of shelter to start a family. As soon as it finds a convenient corner, it immediately begins building a nest. Each egg has its own sector. After a few days, a small individual will hatch from it. She chews the lid and gets out. Long before winter, the female breeds offspring, which will continue the work of the uterus.

After fertilization, the males die. Then the old queen dies, and after some time, the individuals that were not fertilized die. Fertilized hornets overwinter and then create their own nest. Only thanks to a well-coordinated organizational system in the hornet family, reproduction is successful. The division of duties (females, males and queen) allows feeding, building and raising offspring in a harmonious system.

Social structure and reproduction

Photo: Hornet

Hornet wasps are quite prolific insects. However, not all females are fertile. Uteruses are capable of reproducing offspring. They are usually large in size. It is the females who become the founders of the hornet family; they begin the construction of the house (nest). Before laying eggs, the queen, with the onset of the first heat, searches for a safe, convenient place to build a house. She lays eggs after building the first few hundred.

Further, her responsibilities include searching for food and caring for future offspring. It takes some time for the eggs to mature. First, larvae emerge from them, then adults. When new members of the community become like adult hornets, they take over all the responsibilities of their parent. The queen continues to lay eggs, and the worker wasps get food, guard the house, complete its construction, and care for the larvae.

After four weeks, new hornets emerge from the larvae. They usually kill the queen due to her inability to reproduce any more. Some individuals simply kick her out of the nest. Representatives of the genus living in the European part do not live long. Their total lifespan is only a few months. Only queens have a long life expectancy. They are able to spend the winter in suspended animation.

Hornets can give a good rebuff to their enemy as a whole flock. To protect themselves, they know how to quickly mobilize forces. In case of danger, this animal releases an alarm pheromone. If such a signal is noticed by his relatives, then the attacker faces real danger.

Building a nest

An individual that has survived the cold season becomes the founder of the nest with the arrival of spring. Soon the female finds a safe place for herself high in the mountains or inside a tree. Then he arranges his place in the rooms where people live and in wooden outbuildings. Gnawing on woody species and crusty formations, insects build their houses from numerous steps. The wood goes through the stage of processing into a papyrus product. Such multi-level houses resemble products made from a thin napkin. You can see such structures in old trees, bird houses, barns. The color scheme of such designs can be varied. Brown stripes go with bright colors. Some of them look like an oval shape. But some are also round in shape. The size of such a structure is 700 by 400 mm.

Quite often, people compare the homes of hornets to a blotter nest, comparing the similarities with paper production. The main initial product for construction is thin tree cover and branches of young trees, well processed by hornets. Sticky saliva acts as a fastening material. Once applied to the house, it dries and hardens. The result is a rough, rough wrapper. The poor appearance of the structure is explained by the fact that the hornets build their houses from rotten wood. Some representatives of insects build their burrows with intricate labyrinths. They can be found deep in the ground or in forgotten animal holes. The depth of the hole can be about 60 meters.

Life cycle of an insect

Asian hornets lead a similar lifestyle to other Vespa species. They live in nests made of paper, they make them themselves using young tree bark, which is glued together with salivary secretions. The female creates a new family by laying eggs with the arrival of warmth, after which the nest increases in size. Initially, she herself finds food for the larvae, looks after and cares for them. A month later, young animals appear, whose task is to feed new larvae and protect the family. The queen will lay eggs for the rest of her life.

Where do hornets spend the winter?

Hornets cannot tolerate extreme cold. But they carefully prepare for the winter. They set up their burrows on the property, at the dacha - wherever they can find shelter. How do insects manage to survive the winter and shelter from wet weather? Only the queens prepare for a long winter sleep. They play the role of leader in the family. For the female, the important point is to survive the winter and then lead her clan. It is also safe to hibernate. To do this, she has to stock up well on nutrients. Finding a good shelter can be considered a necessary condition for the survival of the uterus. Finding a safe place for the winter is a crucial moment in the life of the uterus.

To ensure ideal wintering conditions, you need to choose a quiet corner. Any option may be suitable except warm and cozy houses where people live. Since the warm temperature in the house can awaken the female earlier, and she will begin to build a nest. This scenario will lead to bad consequences. It will be difficult to find not only wood for the nest, but also food for the offspring. The uterus under such conditions is doomed to death. An important factor in favorable hibernation is stability, without sudden temperature changes. A large number of females die during harsh winters when there is little snow. They become easy prey for birds. As a result, most die.

How hornets survive winter

It is known that insects do not tolerate temperature fluctuations and extreme cold. What do hornets do to prepare for winter?

If possible, they build their nests in secluded places (burrows, various rooms) where there is protection from the wind.

Only the main queen of the family prepares for hibernation, since her task is to continue the race for the next year. They eat well.

A supply of nutrients and a secluded place help females survive the winter.

How long do hornets live?

Hornets differ in appearance (body size) and perform different tasks and functions. In autumn, males begin the process of fertilization, after which they soon die. Working individuals have a short lifespan - no more than three weeks. The female lives the longest - about a year. Working females and males do not live long. They grow up at the end of summer, and in the fall (early September) most of the individuals die. The surviving insects survive only until the first cold weather. Males are needed by the family only for fertilization. After mating they live only a few days. The female is able to withstand the cold and live in hibernation for up to a year. In the second winter, its life cycle ends and it dies.

Common or European hornet

The body length of a male common hornet is about 2.5 cm, while the female grows up to 3.5 cm. They are found in Eurasia and St. America. Insects prefer to nest in tree hollows, barns and other similar places. Interestingly, these hornets live in nests built by queens.

It is also noteworthy that only females survive the winter, forming new families and building new nests each time. The European hornet's diet includes insects, raw meat, fruits and berries. Their bites are toxic, as a result of which a person may develop a fever and dizziness. Cases of death are extremely rare.

Types of hornets

There are several dozen popular species. Hornets are part of the wasp family. They have a lot in common, but have a number of distinctive features that set them apart from other individuals. There are 23 species of hornets. The most common types:

1. Common (living in Europe): brown, body length 35mm. It is distinguished by two bright stripes on the lower part of the body. It is well known to Russian gardeners and beekeepers, but was recently brought to the USA and now lives there.

2. Black hornet (Dybowski): stripes on the black back are yellow (predator color). The wings are brown. Length 35mm. Few people are familiar with this type of hornet. Listed in the Red Book. They live in the Amur region, Transbaikalia and Primorsky Krai.

3. Giant Asian: its body length is 6 cm, has a large wingspan. It is distinguished by its bright head and striped back. lives mostly in Asian spaces. It is also found in the mountains of Sri Lanka, as well as in India and Taiwan. It has a large sting about 6mm. The bite is dangerous and contains a toxic substance. One of the largest in the world.

   
   Some of the most dangerous hornets are Asian hornets, called “killer” hornets.

4. Japanese hornet (Japanese): a subspecies of the giant hornet called the "sparrow-bee" lives on Sakhalin. Large yellow head, large eyes, adjacent to them are 3 ocelli. The bite is painful and has dangerous consequences, as the venom contains toxins.
5. Eastern: has the most elaborate coloring of all types. It is distinguished by a wide yellow stripe on its belly. Bright red with a crimson tint to the wings and body. One of the many species that tolerates heat well. Well adapted for living in deserts and steppes. Originally from North Africa.

6. Philippine hornet: has a black color. Another name for the species is Lamentable. It is dangerous because it produces highly toxic poison. The bite is very unpleasant. The main habitat is the Philippine Islands.

Asian hornet: its size and appearance

Giant Asian murder hornet, photo

The Asian hornet has the color and body structure characteristic of hornets and wasps in general. The color and shape of the pattern may vary depending on the subspecies. The Asian hornet has an orange-yellow body, a brown abdomen, an almost black cephalothorax, and a body covered with several black stripes. There are three pairs of legs.

However, it is easy to distinguish the Asian hornet from other species due to the huge difference in size. The body length of some subspecies can exceed 5 cm. The wingspan of the insect is about 7.5 cm. The sting length is approximately 6 mm.

The main distinguishing feature of Asian hornets, apart from their enormous size, is their very large head size.

Differences between a hornet and a wasp

These individuals are easily distinguished not only by size. The main difference from the wasp is its large, impressive jaws, unlike representatives of wasps. The coloring is slightly different. In the hornet it is more diverse. It is larger in size and has a hairy fluff. The hornet is distinguished by its movable whiskers and crown. There are similarities, but the wasp has a narrow waist.

General information about hornets

Hornet is an insect related to wasps. The genus of hornets is classified as a widespread family of true (paper, social) wasps, among which its representatives are the largest (up to 5.5 cm in length).

In Latin, the genus of hornets is called Vespa, which means “wasp”.

The hornets' habitat is mainly in the Northern Hemisphere (Europe, Asia, North America, North Africa).

Table: classification of hornets

Kingdom	Animals
Type	Arthropods
Class	Insects
Squad	Hymenoptera
Family	Real wasps
Genus	Hornets

Structure and description

The average size of a hornet is 180–350 millimeters in length. The head is black, yellow, orange or red-brown - often the insect is distinguished by its reddish tint. The jaws are black, brown or orange-yellow. The coloring of the body, as a rule, is similar to that of a wasp - alternating black and yellow or reddish stripes, but usually they are not so contrasting. There are exceptions, for example, the variable hornet, painted exclusively in dark colors.

In general, the structure of the hornet is similar to the structure of other wasps:

• the body is divided into head, chest and abdomen;
• on the head there are two compound and three simple eyes;

  
  The complex compound eyes of a hornet resemble sunglasses

• there are two pairs of wings;
• the place where the chest meets the abdomen is narrow (“wasp waist”);
• at the posterior end of the abdomen there is an ovipositor (also known as a sting), which is retracted in a calm state.

The ovipositor of hornets, like that of other wasps, is smooth. Therefore, they can sting several times, unlike bees, which cannot get the barbed stinger back.

In addition to their size, hornets differ from other wasps in their wider crown (the part of the head located behind the eyes). In addition, their abdomen is rounded at the front.

Features of the life of a hornet

Hornets have a complex social organization with its own hierarchy. Insects of one colony (from several hundred to several thousand individuals) are divided into castes:

• queen - lays eggs, lives, as a rule, a year, but maybe more if it survives the winter;
• males - fertilize the uterus, live for several weeks - quickly die after fertilization;
• female workers - build a nest, get food, live for about a month.

Photo gallery: common hornets from different castes

The queen hornet is larger than all other individuals

Most of the workers are in the nest

Males are smaller in size

Reproduction

Working females are infertile because the queen secretes special pheromones that block the ability of “rivals” to reproduce. But around the beginning of autumn, the queen hornet lays eggs, from which females will emerge capable of bearing offspring. Males also appear at the end of summer. They mate with future queens. With the onset of cold weather, the hive dies, only fertilized females remain alive, looking for shelter for the winter. In the spring, the young queen chooses a place for a new colony, where she begins to build honeycombs.

Hornet development cycle:

1. Each cell of the honeycomb built by the queen will contain an egg.

   
   A new generation of workers will emerge from the eggs laid by the queen.

2. After about a week, larvae 1–2 mm in size will emerge from the eggs.
3. After two weeks, the larvae become pupae.
4. After another 14 days, an adult emerges from the pupa - a working hornet.

Nests

Hornets' homes are multi-tiered (up to 500 tiers). Insects hang nests in hollows, abandoned birdhouses, dry bushes, in attics and under the roofs of houses, in caves and simply on tree branches. Hornets' houses are large - they can reach 70 cm in height and exceed 40 cm in width.

Like their wasp relatives, hornets hang their nests at heights

The material used to build nests and the method of its production resembles paper. Hornets chew bark or wood well, adding their sticky saliva to it. The nest is built from the layers of the resulting mass. When the material dries, it becomes very similar to wrapping paper.

Hornets' nests look like they're made of paper

Some species of hornets build underground nests. And there are also those that take over other people’s nests, killing the host queen.

Nutrition

Hornets are omnivores. Adults consume plant foods and are especially fond of sweets: fruits, honey, nectar. They hunt various insects: flies, grasshoppers, caterpillars, wasps, aphids, ticks and others. They feed their larvae with animal food, after grinding it with their jaws to a liquid state. Dead insects, as well as human food waste (meat, fish), can be used to feed offspring.

Hornets sleep very rarely and work even at night.

How dangerous are hornets to humans?

Hornets can pose a danger to people in some cases. To protect themselves, the hornets gather very quickly; for this, the individual releases a special substance - an alarm signal. Other individuals can react to it and fly to the aid of a comrade and attack the offender en masse. Therefore, you should not touch the hornet in vain.

The mortality rate from hornet stings is very low, but the risk is still present. In addition, each subsequent sting will be worse tolerated by the body, because immunity to the poison is not developed, but on the contrary, the negative reaction intensifies.

How to get rid of hornets?

If an insect appears in your home, then you do not need to try to kill it with a fly swatter. After all, an angry insect can respond with a bite. Cover it with a glass and release it outside.

But this option is suitable if the insect appears in your house in a single copy. If there is a whole family of hornets under the roof of the house, then cover the created nest with polyethylene, spraying dichlorvos inside the bag in advance, or collect water in a bucket and lower the nest into it.

There is another method for eliminating hornets. The spray bottle is filled with gasoline, after which you need to spray the nest and set it on fire.

Hornet sting: harm of poison and consequences of toxic effects

The bite of this insect is more painful than a bite from a bee or wasp. It all depends on the individual body’s ability to tolerate pain. If a sting occurs, it is advisable to help the person as quickly as possible. Hornets have a needle with which they can pierce the human body repeatedly. Individuals from Asia are more poisonous than European ones. The bite is accompanied by sharp pain with severe swelling. May cause: severe pain and hemorrhage followed by suppuration.

Does the hornet bite or sting?

The hornet has powerful jaws. His bites are very deep. The wounds take almost a week to heal. When attacking a person, hornets use a sting that leaves scars in the form of dots, but they can also simply bite with their claws. The poison is dangerous because it is toxic and can poison the body. The bite is very painful and the consequences can be unpredictable. Elderly people, children and allergy sufferers are especially at risk. Swelling and inflammation can appear instantly after an insect attack, and suppuration is also possible. Signs of poisoning are characterized by nausea and severe dizziness.

Bites pose the greatest danger to those people who have an allergic reaction. They can worsen a person’s condition from several hours to 2-3 days. The bite is dangerous because the body of a person with allergies does not fight well against the effects of the poison. As a result, large swelling and difficulty breathing may occur. In some cases, people lose consciousness. The insect venom contains histamine, which most often causes a person to feel unwell, up to and including anaphylactic shock. Fatalities are caused by neglect of medical care and delayed first aid.

Black hornet or Dybowski's hornet

This insect has a body length from 3.5 cm to 2.5 cm. It is similar in size to the European hornet, but its appearance is original: its abdomen is black, its wings are brown, and it has no stripes. Only in this species the queen does not build nests on her own.

Black hornet or Dybowski's hornet

It is a parasite, climbs into the nests of other hornets (common or oriental) and kills the hostess. After this, the entire swarm dies, and the raider takes over someone else’s nest. These hornets are common in India, China, and Japan. Their stings are poisonous, but the venom is less toxic than that of the Asian hornet. It feeds on insects, like all its relatives.

What to do if bitten by a hornet?

Usually people have little idea what to do if they are bitten by an insect or do not have enough knowledge to provide first aid. The appearance of severe pain is not a sign that the human body is subject to destruction. You need to know that insect venom contains components that have a strong effect on nerve endings. Therefore, the pain shock can be pronounced. In a normal situation, it is quite difficult to predict the consequences of a bite; each person’s body reacts individually. For some, a bite can only cause pain and swelling, while for others it can end in disaster, including asphyxia, loss of consciousness and even death. If bitten, first aid must be provided immediately. Inaction is unacceptable!

1. The first necessary condition that you need to remember is that there is no sting in the wound, only poison.
2. Try to remove the poison by sucking it out.
3. Treat the bite site with a solution of citric or acetic acid.
4. Try washing with any soap solution.
5. Treat the wound with an alcohol-containing solution or hydrogen peroxide.
6. After this, you need to apply cold with wet sugar. This reduces the risk of poison spreading throughout the body.
7. You should not drink alcohol after a bite. This will cause even more swelling and worsen the person’s condition. Bites to the neck and head area are very dangerous.
8. From folk remedies, you can use the juices of plants such as dandelion, plantain or soda solution. Onion and garlic cloves are also suitable for treatment.

Signs of an allergic reaction from a bite:

• severe headaches;
• elevated temperature;
• cardiopalmus;
• hard breath;
• pain in the abdomen.

If you have these symptoms, you need to take painkillers in tablet form. This reduces the effect of histamine. You also need to drink a lot of water to reduce poisoning.

It must be remembered that if none of the methods help with a bite, and the condition begins to worsen, call a doctor immediately.

What to do if you are bitten by an Asian hornet?

First aid for an Asian hornet sting is similar to that taken for wasps and other types of hornets.

It is extremely important to do several things:

1. Take the victim away and move further away from the place yourself, as the hornet attack may happen again.
2. Remove the sting. Although the hornet does not leave a sting in the victim after the attack, such a possibility exists, especially if the insect was killed immediately after the attack.
3. Disinfect the affected area with hydrogen peroxide, potassium permanganate or iodine solution.
4. Apply a cold compress to the bite site. You can also make a compress from wet sugar, it will slow down the rate of spread of the poison.
5. Inject an antihistamine (if this is not possible, you can take a pill, but the effectiveness of this method is noticeably lower).
6. Lay the patient on his back, place a pillow or some kind of cushion under his head, it is important that the head is raised.

Even in the absence of an allergic reaction, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Giant Asian murder hornet, dimensions

Asian murder hornet on a tree, photo

Asian murder hornet on hand, dimensions

How to avoid a hornet sting

If an insect attacks, it is quite difficult to avoid a bite, which is why you need to take measures to prevent this situation,

for this:

• If you see an insect near a nest, you should quickly move as far as possible from the dangerous place.
• Do not touch or stir up the masonry even if there is no visible danger.
• When picking fruits, you need to carefully select the fruits, making sure that they are free of insects. If you bite the affected product, you can provoke the hornet to attack.
• During the summer months, it is worth limiting the amount of strong aromas. Flower and sweet arrangements attract pests.
• It is necessary to hide all leftover food and garbage in the house. If the hornet once profited from table scraps, it will return again, as it has an excellent memory. To prevent the smell of garbage from attracting the parasite, you should remove all particles into a special container.

If you were going to imagine an insect from nightmares, it would definitely have the word "giant" in its name. What could be worse than a giant hornet? It comes from Asia and is the largest hornet in the world, a real wasp on steroids.

So, from inside your home, some of you may feel bold enough to say that the 5cm long Asian giant hornet armed with a 6mm stinger is not exactly a giant. And while you might change your mind if you come across one in real life, we'll agree that it's not big enough to scare a grown man. So, to convey the true horror rather than exaggerate, the Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia) has received a widely used nickname as the murder hornet.

Can a murder hornet kill a person?

With names like murder hornet, tiger head, yak killer or just plain old murder hornet, this beast sounds pretty scary, but is it really that dangerous to humans? This is true to some extent, and over the years it has earned a grim reputation for causing numerous deaths.

In Japan, between 20 and 50 people a year die from giant hornet bites, making it the country's deadliest animal. In China, the death toll is even higher: in Shaanxi province alone, hornets kill more than 40 people a year and hundreds are seriously injured. Before you panic, however, it's worth noting that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that about 60 people die from wasp, bee, and hornet stings in the United States each year—that's the total for all species.

To be fair to the giant hornet, there is still no real scientific consensus on whether it is more dangerous than the common hornet. Individually, this is probably the most dangerous of all wasps, bees and other hornets. But statistically speaking, they can't quite live up to their murderous reputation.

How strong is the bite?

How dangerous a murder hornet (or any stinging insect) is depends on two factors: how strong the venom is and how much of it is injected. Hornet venom consists of a powerful cocktail of cytotoxins and neurotoxins. The first of these (mastoparan) cause pain and tissue damage, with one researcher describing the sensation as “like a hot nail being driven into my leg.” These cytotoxins also cause severe swelling and destruction of blood and muscle cells. This can cause a further serious complication of kidney failure as the kidneys try to filter out all the debris.

The neurotoxin contained in the venom creates an additional level of danger from the consequences of a bite from this hornet. Known as mandaratoxin, it blocks nerve impulses, but fortunately is not that strong. It is estimated that it would take about 200 bites to produce a lethal dose of the neurotoxin. However, it is also thought to increase the likelihood of an allergic reaction and anaphylactic shock.

Photo. Murder hornet sting

While the venom itself may not be the strongest, it is certainly incredibly painful. The consequences of a murder hornet sting are more than offset by quantity and delivery. The 6mm sting turns this beast into a flying syringe. By comparison, the honey bee's stinger is only a quarter of that length. This allows the hornet to penetrate most protective clothing and also inject a significant dose. And since hornets do not die after stinging, they can do this several times.

General medical advice is that if you have been stung 10 times or more, you should seek medical attention. If you've been stung more than 30 times, you're in big trouble, although to be fair you probably would have realized that by now!

It is reported that the giant hornet not only stung its victims, but also sprayed poison. One such attack in Japan left a person with permanent eye damage, although details about the severity are limited.

So, is this the most painful wasp sting?

According to entomologist Justin Schmidt, the most painful insect bite is the bullet ant. Ants are related to wasps, but the most painful wasp sting Schmidt personally experienced was that of a wasp known as the tarantula hawk. He described it as: “Blinding, brutal, shocking. A working hairdryer fell into the bubble bath!”

Photo. Asian huge hornet (lat. Vespa mandarinia)

But there is another wasp that is said to have an even more painful sting. The whimsically named executioner wasp (Polistes carnifex) has a fearsome reputation throughout Latin America, and although it is not considered aggressive, do not provoke it at your peril. One person who can attest to the severity of the bite is YouTuber Nathaniel ("Coyote") Peterson, who has allowed himself to be bitten by some of the most dangerous insects in the world. He compared it to a bullet ant and significantly worse than a murder hornet. Along with the initial pain and swelling, he also reported tissue necrosis with a “small hole” forming in his arm at the site of the bite.

How big are murder hornets?

The name giant hornet is probably enough to tell us that they are quite large. We already know that hornets are huge wasps, and the murder hornet is their dad.

Photo. Body structure of the Asian huge hornet

Let's start with a figure you may have seen elsewhere, but keep in mind that these are queen sizes. With a body length of almost 2 inches (50 mm) and a wingspan of 3 inches (75 mm), it is an absolute nightmare. What's more, they can fly at speeds of up to 25 mph (40 km/h), so you won't be able to escape unless you can run like an Olympic sprinter!

Admittedly, worker hornets are somewhat smaller at only 1.5 inches (40 mm), but this is still quite large for a wasp.

How can you tell if it's a murder hornet?

If you are lucky enough to see an Asian giant hornet, chances are you will be in Asia and it will look quite large! Jokes aside, they're pretty easy to identify if you're willing to get close enough.

Along with all the usual hornet features, such as a narrow wasp waist and striped abdomen, the most notable feature is their large, bright orange head. In addition, the color of the stripes is usually closer to the more orange spectrum, rather than yellow.

There are a number of species very similar to these hornets. If you're outside of Asia, it's likely one of several local look-alikes. These include the Western Cicada Killer (Sphecius speciosus), which is similar in size and has some orange markings, and the Elm Sawfly (Cimbex americana), another large wasp. Closer relatives are the European and Asian hornets, but neither of them compares in size to the murder hornet.

Where do murder hornets live?

Names like the Asian and Japanese giant hornet are a bit of a clue, and generally the murder hornet is only found in Asia. It is found in China, India, Japan, eastern Russia, Korea, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Here they live in forested low mountain areas.

Hornets almost always nest underground in abandoned burrows of other animals or in cavities between tree roots. However, they sometimes nest in trees. In general, the nest can become quite large, housing over 1,000 workers, although more often the population numbers in the hundreds.

Are there murder hornets in America?

In fact, murder hornets have always existed in America—native species cause several deaths each year. But has the murder hornet reached America?

There have been several sightings reported in the Pacific Northwest over the past couple of years, and several nests have been destroyed. The first confirmed case involved 3 hornets spotted on Vancouver Island in Canada in August 2022. They were traced to the nest, which was destroyed. It wasn't long before new sightings were made just across the border in the US state of Washington. Alarmingly, genetic analysis of the collected samples showed that they were of different origins: some from Japan and others from South Korea.

Perhaps the most notorious case to date occurred in Blaine, Washington, where a nest of 98 hornets was destroyed using a vacuum hose. The Washington State Department of Agriculture is now encouraging people to report any sightings of Asian giant hornets through its website in hopes it will prevent further spread of the species. However, current forecasts say they could easily spread as far south as Oregon and as far north as British Columbia.

Who are they hunting?

The murder hornet feeds on many insects such as praying mantises and even other hornets, including their own species. Perhaps the most famous prey species are honey bees. Murder hornets have been observed destroying bee colonies by decapitating them with their powerful jaws. Hornets are about five times larger than bees, and their thick armor makes them more or less invincible. In these hive raids, individual hornets are known to kill about 40 bees per minute in what is called the "kill phase." A handful of giant hornets can destroy a bee colony in less than an hour.

This may seem a little one-sided for honey bees, as is the case with the Western honey bee (Apis mellifera). They were introduced to Japan because they produce more honey. However, native Japanese honey bees have a unique method of dealing with hornet attacks. When a hornet enters a nest, the bees quickly form a ball of 100 individuals around the invader. They then begin to vibrate violently with their flight muscles, which generates heat and high levels of CO2 inside the ball. Reaching 115 °F (46 °C) in the center, CO2 levels become too high for the hornet, which dies, but the bees can survive it.

Photo. Bees attack murder hornet

For this method to be effective, it must be used on the Scout Hornet before it can call upon additional reinforcements to destroy the hive.

In addition, the murder hornet has very few natural enemies. In principle, no one wants to mess with these super-wasps. However, since this is Asia, they end up on the menu in some places. In some regions of Japan, hornet larvae are considered a delicacy when fried, while adults can sometimes be spit-roasted and eaten when crisp. There are also various alcoholic drinks, such as "shochu", where the hornet is drowned in clear liquor and then left to mature for several years. Perhaps the strangest of all is the energy drink known as VAAM, which is actually made from giant hornet vomit. Mmmm!

So, do hornets do anything good?

In fact, like all hornets and wasps, the Asian giant hornet does have its place in the world. Like almost everything in nature, they have their place in the local ecosystem. As apex insect predators, they help control arachnids and insect pests, and also help pollinate flowers by traveling between plants.

This entry was published on Tuesday, November 17, 2022 - 1:55 pm. You can leave a comment.

How do they reproduce and how long do they live?

The queen, hibernating in the cold, finds a place in the spring that is suitable for a nest and lays her eggs there. She then looks for food and looks after her future inheritance.

Newly born members of the community take care of the future arrangement of the nest and feeding the queens and larvae. This type of scheme causes the community to grow incredibly quickly.

After about thirty days, hornets emerge from the larvae, and it is possible that the queen will be expelled from the nest, or eliminated, because she can no longer lay eggs.

As for the duration of the hornets’ life cycle, it only reaches a couple of months. We are talking about working insects.

But the queen can live longer due to the ability to withstand severe frosts well, thanks to hibernation.