Tom Jacob
6 nov 2021
Asian giant hornets (Vespa mandarinia), are the pirates of the insect world.
The Asian giant hornet is a “true” hornet and the world’s largest, ranging in size from 38 to 50mm (1.5 to - 2 inches). The stinger is nearly 0.6cm (¼-inch) long and stings are extremely painful. The Asian giant hornet is not necessarily aggressive towards humans or pets but will sting if provoked. However, this giant killer can inflict a devastating blow to honey bee colonies, with several hornets capable of annihilating 30,000 bees within hours.
New queens and males emerge in late summer and mate. Eventually the males and workers die, leaving only the newly-mated queens who overwinter in isolation.
Their natural range is in the temperate to tropical forested areas of Asia. But as with a lot of invasive species, man’s movement has facilitated its spread to regions outside of these areas.