Among the hornets, a special place is occupied by the world's largest representative of this genus - Vespa Mandarinia, or the Asian giant hornet, whose photo can be viewed this year. As the name implies, it is very difficult not to notice it, since this insect with a brightly colored body up to 5 cm in size and an even more impressive wingspan of up to 7 cm cannot but attract attention. The Asian hornet is extremely dangerous and poisonous. To be able to distinguish it from more harmless relatives is especially important for lovers of travel to exotic countries of mysterious and unique Asia.

Interestingly, the Vespa mandarin is one of 23 species of hornets, which include common relatives living in Europe. The size of an insect is an anatomical adaptation to the climate in which it lives. Insects with large sizes are much easier to tolerate heat, because they have a large surface for heat transfer to the environment.

Moreover, due to the size of this killer, he can easily count on many victims, including those of comparable size. The rest of the insect is similar to its other relatives in appearance.

Appearance and structure of Vespa Mandarinia

Generally, appearance and body structure of an Asian giant killer hornet very similar to characteristics representatives of all 23 varieties of these insects. In color, they resemble wasps, but differ from them in size and lifestyle.

You can distinguish the Asian hornet from all other insects by the following striking features:

  1. An incredibly large size, reaching a ratio of body length and wingspan of 5x7 cm. An adult insect with spread wings almost completely covers the female palm and at first glance it seems like a plastic toy.
  2. Abdomen ( rear end body), painted in alternating black and yellow stripes, from a distance it seems black, since the dark stripes are wider than the light ones.
  3. Breast ( middle part body) is very dark, with a characteristic black pattern.
  4. The head (front of the body) is most often a rich yellow or orange color, which allows you to notice the insect from afar.
  5. The paired lateral eyes are very large, deep dark in color, almost black.

In addition to large lateral eyes, in the center of the front of the head, the hornet has three more additional ones, thanks to which the insect distinguishes the degree of illumination and perfectly orients itself in space. The Asian hornet sees well even in the dark.

The appearance of the giant insect is very remarkable, the hornet is difficult to confuse with other species or not notice. But, given the high speed that it can develop during flight, bright identifying signs are not always enough to avoid an unpleasant meeting with the killer, as this eastern giant is also called.

Varieties of the Asian giant hornet

The intimidating appearance and impressive size are only an adaptive mechanism to the conditions. external environment and eating behavior. In the process evolutionary development there was a further adaptation of representatives of this species to natural conditions, which led to the appearance of several subspecies of Vespa Mandarinia.

The most famous endemic is the Japanese huge hornet. This unique insect can only be found on the Japanese islands and nowhere else in the world. The hornet is slightly more modest in size than the ordinary Asian giant rep of this kind. It differs from its counterparts in color - its abdomen is with orange, not yellow stripes.

Some subspecies of giant hornets differ not in striped, but in marbled color of the abdomen. Absolutely all representatives of Vespa Mandarinia are poisonous and dangerous to humans, which should be taken into account by travelers to Asian countries.

Habitats of the giant hornet

In Europe, representatives of Vespa Mandarinia are not found. Their natural habitat is the countries of Asia:

  • Japan.
  • Korea.
  • China.
  • India.
  • Thailand.

There they feel very comfortable in the hot and humid environment of the tropics and subtropics. It is curious that in Russian Federation this insect is found on the territory of Primorsky Krai, where the conditions of the monsoonal Far Eastern climate are also suitable for it for comfortable living and reproduction.

Asian giant hornet life cycle

Like other representatives of this group of insects, Vespa Mandarinia live in large colonies in nests. The arrangement of the "home" begins to deal with the female. In early spring, she builds a nest of modest size, which will subsequently increase many times in volume and area. At this stage, the task of the female is to lay the foundation for the future colony by laying a few larvae. their firstborn future queen nourishes and takes care of itself.

About a month later, the first hornets appear, which are already ready to take care of the next generations of larvae, the completion of the nest, its protection and the development of the colony.

The queen (womb) remains in the nest forever and throughout her life she is engaged in laying larvae. All other concerns are taken over by the hornets that have appeared in the nest, which leave it for hunting and other needs.

The colony is growing rapidly. If about a month passes from the first clutch to the appearance of hornets, then in the future, in 4-6 weeks, the number of insects in the colony can increase to several thousand.

Throughout the existence of the colony, all insects, except for the uterus, have three main concerns: obtaining food for themselves and voracious larvae, completing the hive to the required size, taking into account the constant replenishment in the family, and protecting the “house” from ruin.

By the first frost, the colony dies out completely. In late August - early September, males fertilize females, but the latter no longer lay larvae. First, the number of the colony stops growing, and then begins to decline rapidly. All males gradually die out, and fertilized females find a safe wintering place for themselves. The family never returns to the old nest. In the spring, after awakening, each female will begin to create her own colony in a new place suitable for this purpose.

What does a giant hornet's nest look like?

Nest Asian killer hornet made from paper-like material. Insects chew on tree bark, impregnating it with a special secret of saliva. From the resulting sticky mass, they build their "house". After drying, the building material acquires desired view and texture, reminiscent of gray kraft paper.

What does the killer hornet eat?

The larvae of this insect are voracious predatory insects. In order to feed them, adults constantly hunt. From the killed insects, the hornets prepare a protein gruel, which is fed to the larvae.

Adults are also predators, the diet of which is based on any other insects. But they are not averse to eating sweet fruits, berries, they are happy to eat fish thrown ashore. Hornets do not use their poison when hunting, they have enough powerful jaws. In search of prey, a group of hornets can raid a bee hive or apiary. This is a real disaster for bees, because one killer can destroy up to 300 bees in a short period of time.

Is Vespa Mandarinia Beneficial?

In natural natural environment predatory hornets are a natural regulator of the number of other insects. Thanks to this, the ecological balance is maintained. Eating small insects giant hornets free the forest from pests, which, with uncontrolled reproduction, can destroy even large green areas.

The harm caused by giant hornets

The main harm caused by a colony of giant hornets is the ruin of apiaries and the killing of bees. It's true disaster for Asian beekeepers. Therefore, a relentless struggle is being waged against dangerous insects in places and habitats found close to agricultural land and human habitation. You always need to be careful, because a meeting with a giant hornet can end for a person with an insect attack, the bite of which sometimes becomes fatal.

What does the sting of a giant hornet look like?

AT calm state the insect does not show its sting, and to see this deadly weapon it is forbidden. It is located inside the back of the body - the striped abdomen.

An insect can attack only in one case - protecting a nest or its own life. Hornets do not use a sting for hunting. Unlike bees, it is smooth, so after contact with the skin, it does not remain in the tissues of the victim. The sting of the Asian hornet reaches 5 mm in length. Each individual can strike several times - until the toxin runs out.

How dangerous is the bite of a killer hornet

The poison of the huge Asian hornet, the photo of which can be viewed in this article, is one of the most toxic substances for humans. That is why the insect received a frightening nickname - the killer hornet. Every year in the countries where they live, their victims, who did not survive after being bitten, number several dozen.

If a person is absolutely healthy, has no problems with the cardiovascular, respiratory and central nervous systems, after a single hornet bite, he will not die. The bite site quickly swells and becomes very painful. But, since there is no poisonous sting left in it, it is quite possible to get rid of unpleasant consequences.

How dangerous is the Asian huge hornet to humans? Piercing the skin of the victim with a sting, the hornet injects only a small amount of poison (about 2 mg), which increases the chances of a successful outcome for the bitten person. However, since the hornet can sting repeatedly, the situation becomes more severe with each subsequent bite.

The poison of this insect belongs to the group of neurotoxins that negatively affect the activity of the central nervous system of a person, depresses respiration and cardiac activity. In addition, the composition of the poison includes substances that can cause dangerous tissue damage, including their necrosis.

For people prone to allergic attacks, with chronic diseases, as well as for children, even a single bite of such an insect can be deadly.

Asian Killer Bite Treatments

The reaction of the human body to the poison of the Asian hornet, the photo and description of which is in this article, can be very different, depending on age, health status, and the number of bites. Therefore, when an insect bites, it is necessary not to waste time and immediately consult a doctor.

Almost always, severe swelling occurs at the site of the bite, so the doctor usually prescribes antihistamines. Depending on the severity of intoxication and the symptoms that appear, adequate therapy is prescribed using medicines that neutralize the toxin and eliminate the consequences of its action.

In most cases, hospitalization and round-the-clock medical supervision of the victim's condition are required.

How to avoid being bitten by a giant hornet

Since insects do not attack in a calm state, avoiding a bite is easy:

  • do not touch or destroy the hornet's nest;
  • when meeting with an insect, do not wave your arms and objects, so as not to provoke him to attack;
  • do not eat sweet juicy foods (such as fruits) and meat in the vicinity of the colony, so as not to attract insects by smell.

These simple measures are enough to reduce the risk of encountering a killer hornet to a minimum.

Interesting facts about the giant insect

The body weight of a huge Asian hornet can reach 200 grams, and in flight from afar it is often mistaken for a small bird. Therefore, the local population often calls the insect "sparrow bee".

A colony of giant hornets is an anthill-like society with a complex social organization. Each adult has its own function and working "profession". In addition to hunters and soldiers, Asian hornets, photos of which are in this article, have nannies, doctors, and even cleaners.

Only females have a sting. But since outwardly they can hardly be distinguished from relatively harmless males, all representatives of this species of insects dangerous to humans should be feared.

Note that for nature, these hornets are natural orderlies. They kill a large number of pests of both forests and Agriculture. Therefore, insects are useful and need protection.

In the world of animals and insects, there are sometimes bizarre or terrifying specimens. One of the insects that can inspire fear in humans is the Asian giant hornet. Its name comes from the Latin "Vespa mandarina". The Asian giant hornet is the largest hornet in the world, measuring five centimeters or more and with a wingspan of more than seven and a half.

The habitat of the Asian giant hornet is Korea, China, Taiwan, Nepal, India, Japan, the mountainous regions of Sri Lanka. Here, this insect can be found everywhere. In addition, Asian giant hornets also live in large numbers in the Primorsky Territory of the Russian Federation.

In different countries, the Asian giant hornet is called differently. For example, in Taiwan, he received the name "bee-tiger". It really has a color, like y - black stripes on the yellow body of an insect. Apparently, the size of the hornet also played a role in this name. In Japan, the huge Asian hornet was called the "bee sparrow". This name is given due to the large span of its wings.

The sting of the huge Asian hornet reaches a size of 6 millimeters. The poison produced by its sting is highly toxic. That is why the bite of a huge Asian hornet is very dangerous for humans. In terms of toxicity, the bite of the Asian giant hornet is many times more dangerous than the bites of other hornets, since an impressive amount of poison is released during the bite. One Japanese entomologist who was bitten by a huge Asian hornet compared the sensation of the bite to a hot nail stuck in the leg.

The bite of a huge Asian hornet should be feared by people who are allergic to bee and wasp venom - for them it is deadly. The venom of the Asian giant hornet contains a high concentration of a toxic substance - mandorotoxin, a large amount of which can kill a completely healthy person who is not allergic to wasp venom. Thus, repeated bites or bites from a large number of Asian huge hornets can be fatal to any person.

In addition to mandorotoxin, the poison of the huge Asian hornet contains other toxic substances capable of destroying tissue human body, cause terrible pain, and the worst thing is to attract hornets. The ability to attract other hornets has acetylcholine, which is contained in the poison of the huge Asian hornet in an amount of more than 5%. The Asian giant hornet, like the wasp, can use its sting repeatedly.

However, when hunting, the huge Asian hornet uses its jaws, which are quite large and developed. Having seized the prey with its jaws, the Asian huge hornet crushes its prey with its jaws.

Well, in conclusion, the video of the epic battle ... 30 Asian hornets destroy the 30 thousandth colony of European bees ...

Sometimes in the world of insects and animals there are bizarre or terrible specimens. One of the terrifying insects that inspire fear in humans is the Asian giant hornet (lat. Vespa mandarina) - the largest hornet in the world. Asian giant hornet in length reaches up to five centimeters, and its wingspan is seven and a half centimeters.

The Asian giant hornet lives in Korea, Nepal, in the mountainous regions of Sri Lanka. Here, this huge insect can be found everywhere. In addition, they live in large numbers in the Primorsky Territory of the Russian Federation.

In different countries Vespa mandarina are called differently. For example, in Taiwan it is called " tiger bee". He actually has brindle coloration- black stripes on the yellow body of the insect. Most likely, in such a name is not last role played the size of the hornet. And in Japan, the huge Asian hornet is called " bee sparrow due to its large wingspan.

Its sting reaches up to 6 millimeters. The poison produced by the huge Asian hornet is highly toxic. That is why the bite of this hornet is extremely dangerous for humans. According to the degree of toxicity, the bite of Vespa mandarina is many times more dangerous than the bites of other varieties of hornets, since a large amount of poison is excreted during the bite. Once, a Japanese entomologist, who was bitten by a huge Asian hornet, told about his sensations from the bite, comparing them with a hot nail that was stuck in his leg. The bite of a giant hornet should be especially feared by those people who are allergic to wasp and bee venom - for them it is deadly. The venom of the Asian giant hornet contains high concentration an incredibly toxic substance - mandorotoxin, a large amount of which can kill a seemingly healthy person who is not allergic to bee venom.

Thus, the bites of a large number of huge Asian hornets or multiple bites of one individual can be fatal to a healthy person. In addition to mandorotoxin, the poison of this hornet also contains other toxic substances that have a destructive effect on the tissues of the human body, causing severe pain, and, worst of all, attracting other hornets. Acetylcholine is responsible for the ability to attract other individuals, 5% of which is contained in the venom of the huge Asian hornet. Like the wasp, the Asian giant hornet can use its stinger multiple times. But during the hunt, the huge Asian hornet uses its jaws, which are well developed and quite large. Grasping his prey with his jaws, he crushes his prey with them.

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Up to 20 species of hornets live on Earth. Some of them are large and dangerous to humans. The largest hornet is the Asian giant hornet. Its body has a size of up to 5 cm in length, a wingspan of up to 7.5 cm, and a weight of up to 200 g.

This insect is so large that when flying it can be mistaken for a bird, so it is called a sparrow bee. The stings of giant hornets are poisonous, so it is better for people to stay away from the nests of these creatures.

The most common and largest are four types of hornets. Their rating is headed by the Asian killer hornet.

1. Giant Asian Hornet, Vespa Mandarinia

This hornet looks like a huge wasp. Its length reaches 5 cm with a body weight of up to 200 g. These insects have large wings with a span of up to 7.5 cm. If you put it on the palm of your hand, it will completely occupy it. This huge wasp has a yellow body with wide black stripes and a yellow head. Attention is drawn to two huge eyes on the sides of the head and three small ones in the middle of it. These insects live in South-East Asia and in Russian Pomorie.

The bite of such a hornet is very poisonous, its poison is the most toxic among insects. If a whole swarm attacked a person, then this can even lead to lethal outcome. In Japan, up to 40 people die every year from the bites of the Asian hornet. But it should be noted that hornets attack only if their nests are destroyed. Nests are destroyed mainly by beekeepers, because giant wasps kill bees.

Asian hornets feed on a variety of insects. Adult individuals sometimes feast on meat, fish, fruits and berries. Hornets never use poison for hunting. They crush the chitin of their prey with their large jaws. Their prey are bees, wasps and other forest insects, including pests of forests and fields. Therefore, hornets are called orderlies of the forest.

These insects live in nests that the queen builds from recycled wood. Hornets' nests are paper-like. After building a nest, the queen lays eggs. She takes care of the offspring until working individuals are born. Then they take care of themselves.

Males and females that appeared later can continue the genus of hornets. The males soon die. Worker hornets also do not live long, they often die while hunting and protecting the nest. Tourists should remember that giant hornets are poisonous, but without a reason they will not attack a person.

2. Common or European hornet

Insect large sizes. The body length of the female is 3.8 - 3.5 cm, the male is 2.5 cm. These hornets have a brown color of the head, chest and nape. The abdomen is brown, striped below. These hornets are common in Eurasia and North America.

Ordinary hornets often settle in summer cottages, in sheds, they can be seen in the hollow of an old tree. They live in nests built by the queen. The family consists of a queen, females, males, workers and nest protectors. Only females survive the winter, which then form new families. Moreover, hornets never settle in an old nest. They can be distinguished from wasps by their large size and head shape.

These hornets feed on insects, but can regale on leftovers. raw meat, fruits, berries, like wasps. The bites of European hornets are venomous, but not as venomous as those of Asian hornets. The bitten place swells, the head hurts, the temperature rises. If a person is very sensitive to insect venom, even a state of shock may occur. Deaths from European hornet stings are very rare. It is better for a person not to meddle in the nest of these insects, then they will not touch him.

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

A large insect, the uterus is up to 3 cm long, the working hornets are up to 2 cm. The difference between this species is a wide yellow strip 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.

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

  • big hornets - interesting insects our planet. They are highly organized beings. In each nest, the queen is the main one, which gives birth to offspring. The genus is continued by females and males. Workers and guards hunt and protect the nest. There are even individuals responsible for cleaning the nest.
  • Only female hornets have a sting, although it is difficult to distinguish them outwardly, so you need to be wary of everyone. Hornets can sting multiple times, which is why they are more dangerous than wasps.
  • These insects do not attack unless their nests are touched. Even if you see their nest in your attic, don't touch it until autumn. When the queen leaves the nest, it must be removed and the cracks caulked.
  • Hornets eat a variety of insects, so they act as orderlies and are beneficial. But at the same time, hornets harm beekeeping.
  • In Germany and Austria, the destruction of a hornet's nest is subject to a fine of 50,000 euros. They were taken under protection, because the number of these insects has fallen sharply.
  • The largest hornet in the world is the giant Asian hornet. This insect is 5-6 cm long and weighs up to 200 g. Its bites are very poisonous, but this hornet attacks a person only when its nests are destroyed. It's dangerous, but beautiful creation one of the wonders of our nature.

Among all Asian insects, the Vespa Mandarinia hornet is one of the most famous. This is not surprising, if only because huge size make it extremely noticeable: a huge wasp with a body length of 5 cm and a wingspan of up to 6 cm somehow by itself attracts the attention of a tourist or traveler. No wonder in Asian countries this insect is also called a sparrow bee - for its impressive size.

However, the Asian hornet has another popular name - it is called a tiger bee for extremely painful bites. At local residents, in contrast to the rave reviews of tourists, the Vespa Mandarinia hornet has earned itself rather a bad reputation: its bite is deadly, especially for a person with hypersensitivity to insect poisons. If several giants attack at the same time, they can easily bite or cripple almost any person to death.

Among other things, Asian is a thunderstorm for all honey bees, so beekeepers in Thailand, India and Japan regularly suffer serious losses from the invasions of these predators.

It is interesting

The Vespa Mandarin hornet is one of 23 species of the hornet genus, which includes, among other things, ordinary European relatives. The size of this insect is just a simple anatomical adaptation to a hot climate (larger-sized animals tolerate high temperatures more easily, since they have a large surface for heat transfer to the environment). In addition, due to its size, this giant can count on a large number of potential victims, even comparable in size to it. Otherwise, the huge Asian hornet is very similar to its other relatives.

As for the Russians, we are mainly interested in the Vespa Mandarin hornet as one of the dangers that can lie in wait while traveling in an exotic Asian region. Therefore, information about what the giant Asian hornet looks like, as well as how to avoid its bites, will never be superfluous.

Distinctive features of the tiger wasp

Asian killer hornets are generally similar in body shape and general color tones to ordinary hornets: they are also yellow with black stripes. However, individual color details still distinguish them from each other.

So, if the Vespa Crabro hornet, better known as the common European hornet, has rather thin black bandages on a yellow body and a dark red head, then the Vespa Mandarinia hornet is characterized by much thicker and more expressive black stripes on the body, as well as a yellow head.

Visually, it is the light-colored head with two large eyes that attracts the most attention.

The video shows Asian hornets caught in a sticky trap:

Giant Asian hornets caught in a sticky trap

Interestingly, the giant Vespa Mandarinia has three small accessory ocelli between the two main large eyes. These additional organs of vision help the hornet to distinguish between dark and light and navigate in space.

In the photo - Asian hornet full face. His extra eyes are clearly visible:

And yet the main hallmark giant hornet, which makes it possible to distinguish this insect from other relatives, is, of course, its size. With its spread wings, it almost covers the palm of a person, so at the first meeting it seems not quite real, but as if deliberately made unnaturally large. Such dimensions help the hornet in the first place to get food that is inaccessible to smaller relatives.

Lifestyle and nutrition of the giant Asian hornet

The Asian giant hornet leads the same lifestyle as all other members of the Vespa genus.

Hornets live in paper nests made from chewed pieces of young tree bark, held together with a sticky salivary secretion. engenders new family the founding female, which at the beginning of the warm season simply lays a few eggs in the place where the nest will later grow.

At first, the female herself obtains food for the larvae, takes care and cares for them. However, already a month after the eggs are laid, young hornets hatch from them, which, in turn, take care of all the care for feeding new larvae and protecting the family. The uterus, on the other hand, greatly limits its role - until the end of its life, it continues only to lay eggs.

In nutrition, the Vespa Mandarinia hornet is picky: the basis of its diet is a wide variety of insects. A huge Asian hornet will also not mind eating meat or fish washed ashore, fruits and berries. Unlike adults, the larvae feed exclusively on animal food, however, this feature is also characteristic of all other hornets of the Vespa genus.

It is interesting

Hornets almost never use their poisonous sting to get food. They kill other insects with powerful jaws, which literally crumble the chitinous covers of their victims.

The largest hornet in the world is widely distributed: it is found throughout Southeast Asia and reaches the Russian Primorye, where it is quite common and numerous.

It is worth noting that the view of the Vespa Mandarinia in different points its range is divided into several subspecies. So, in Japan, for example, there is a subspecies that is endemic only for island territories.

In general, hornets of this species are common in different biotopes, but most of all they prefer forests and various light groves. Thus, it will not work to meet the Asian hornet in the highlands, steppe and desert areas.

Vespa Mandarinia poison and its effect on humans

The Asian giant hornet is very poisonous: its poison is considered one of the most toxic among all insects in general. However, due to the fact that this huge predator, when bitten, does not introduce the entire supply of poison into the wound, in general, the bite of the Asian hornet is, although extremely painful, but for a healthy person with a normally functioning immune system mortal danger does not represent.

On a note

Every year in Japan about 40 people die from the bites of giant hornets. Thus, the hornets here set a kind of anti-record - no other wild animal can "boast" of such indicators.

Photo of the sting of the Asian hornet:

Due to the presence of several protein toxins in hornet venom, its entry into soft tissues immediately activates cell lysis, which is accompanied by instant swelling and inflammation. The presence of histamine and acetylcholine in the poison - substances that ensure the occurrence of an immediate immune response and the transmission of neuromuscular reactions - causes a sharp pain effect, sometimes accompanied by a state of shock in the victim.

“After being bitten by a hornet, I was in the hospital for three weeks. I had a huge swelling on the whole side, I could not move my arm. The bite itself is simply monstrous - as if a drill is drilled into the body with an ordinary drill. When the insect bit me, I barely had time to reach the house and lost consciousness. The wife has already called the medics. And one of my friends died a year ago from a hornet attack.

Tai Won Xing, Jilin

Quite a typical response of the body to a hornet bite is considered to be extensive tissue edema, which was already mentioned above, increased heart rate, headaches and fever.

However, in people sensitive to insect toxins, even a single bite from a giant hornet can cause anaphylactic shock and death. If there were numerous bites, then in this case, even for a healthy person, the attack is fraught with tissue necrosis, extensive hemorrhages and damage internal organs.

Reproduction of giant hornets

Now let's look at how the Vespa Mandarinia hornet continues the genus. There are several key points here.

  1. The family of giant hornets exists for no more than one year.
  2. When the housing of these huge wasps grows to a decent size, and the working individuals themselves become quite numerous, the uterus begins to lay eggs, from which males and females capable of breeding are hatched.
  3. At a certain moment, these sexually mature individuals swarm and mate, after which the young males die, and the females seek secluded shelters for themselves and remain in them until spring.
  4. By the rainy season (and in the Primorye region - by winter) old family completely dies out, as the uterus stops laying new eggs.

It is worth noting that sometimes all Vespa hornets do not live up to the time of natural death, as they die from ticks or infections.

A disaster for man or an adornment of nature?

In a global sense, giant Asian hornets are, of course, dangerous to people, but this danger is not critical, since it is entirely and completely provoked by the person himself. These insects are not very aggressive by nature and will only attack in self-defense or nest defense.

Hornets do much more harm to apiaries, especially those that breed less aggressive European honey bees. Sometimes hornets manage to destroy an entire bee family in a few hours, and therefore local beekeepers wage an ongoing systematic struggle with them.

In general, mortality from giant hornet bites is quite high: in some regions, up to 100 people die per year. But in fairness it should be said that most of the dead are the same beekeepers who, without special means defenses actively destroy hornet nests and, as a result, fall under their massive attacks.

A simple tourist who accidentally finds himself in the forest next to the Vespa Mandarinia hornet should not be afraid of this insect - it will not attack without a reason.

On a note

In the West, synthetic substances are added to many dietary supplements, similar to the secret contained in the developing hornet larvae. It is believed that these components increase a person's stamina. However, there is no experimental evidence for these claims.

In conclusion, it should be noted that for wildlife, giant hornets are one of the most active natural orderlies. They successfully destroy many pests of forests and agriculture, therefore, in most biocenoses - including on agricultural lands - they are useful and deserve protection.

Several dozen hornets completely destroyed the bee hive

Centipede versus giant Asian hornet: who wins?

Asian giant hornet largest representative among brothers. It is difficult not to notice the insect due to its bright color, significant wingspan. Official name– Vespa mandarinia. The pest is not found in Europe. The territory where he lives is limited to Asia: Far East, Japan, China, Korea, as well as India, etc.

Vespa mandarinia is one of the 23 species of insects in the hornet genus. These are predators that are capable of causing significant harm to humans, however, their task is different. Hornets prey on some small insects, which is good on the one hand, since most often they are pests that destroy useful crops.

On the other hand, vespa mandarinia kills bees, which is detrimental to beekeeping. Due to its large size, it is able to hunt effectively, and in addition to that, the structure of the body of an insect is due to the need for increased endurance in areas with a hot climate.

How to distinguish the Asian hornet from other species?

The pest is several times longer than the usual wasp. So, the size of the body of a giant insect reaches 5 cm. The wingspan is also significant - up to 7.5 cm. The Asian large hornet somehow resembles a wasp. However, there is more similarity with the common hornet, which is found in Europe.

Appearance features: a huge wasp with a body length of 5 cm and a wingspan of up to 6 cm

The body color of vespa mandarinia is yellow-black. The head is bright (yellow), the chest is dark (black). The lower part of the body is striped, but is characterized by wider stripes. Long mustaches are located on the head.

Size difference: Left - wasp, Right - giant hornet

One of the differences between the pest is 5 eyes, two of which are large, and three are small, located in the center. Additional organs of vision contribute to improved orientation on the ground, in addition, the central eyes help the pest to distinguish between light and dark colors.

Apart from the two main eyes, there are three eyes in the middle of the head. What provides the ideal viewing angle

All these features combined make the vespa mandarinia a more conspicuous insect. In the extended position, the wings cover the palm of a person. This makes the pest visible, however, it will not protect against attack, since the insect develops a significant flight speed. You can only prevent contact with the pest by noticing the shelter or himself in advance.

Lifestyle and eating habits

The Asian giant hornet does not differ in behavior from fellow species. The female begins to equip the nest in early spring. At the same time, its dimensions are much smaller than the final version. The main task for this stage- lay the beginning of the colony, for which the female lays the first eggs. Then larvae emerge from them. They form into adults, which take on the responsibility of providing the uterus and "young animals" with food, and also perform the function of protecting the nest.

Asian hornets leave the shelter as needed. However, the uterus always remains in place, since after feeding the first generation of insects, its main function is to further increase the number of the hornet colony. The feeding habits of insects are varied. They usually eat insects different types: flies, caterpillars, bees, spiders, etc. However, pests can eat meat, fish. Their diet includes fruits and berries.

They almost never use their sting to get food. Kill other insects with powerful jaws

Food for larvae is not so diverse. For them, adult brothers get insects. Adults hunt using only their own fairly powerful mouthparts.

breeding process

Most pests die by the beginning of the rainy season in Asian territory. In Primorye (Russia), adults die closer to winter. This means that insects live less than a year.

They live in paper nests made from chewed pieces of tree bark, held together by a salivary secret.

Most of the colony are working individuals. When the number of pests has increased significantly, the uterus lays eggs, from which females and males capable of breeding appear.

Then the mating period of insects begins, after which the males die. Females remain alive to continue the genus. Their next task is to find a suitable shelter for wintering. In the spring, they appear to initiate the emergence of a colony. Many adults die much earlier than expected. This is facilitated by various kinds of infections, mites or other insects that attack en masse, for example, bees in Asia.

How does poison affect a person?

The giant Asian hornet is known for its painful stings and an extremely poisonous substance that it injects under the skin of its prey. Due to the fact that these pests do not have a jagged sting, like bees, they attack many times without the slightest harm to their body.

Its venom is considered one of the most toxic among all insects in general.

The poison of the giant hornet is considered the most dangerous. However, upon contact with an insect, a person often remains alive, since the pest injects only part of its supply of poisonous substance.

After a single bite, a physically healthy person will survive. However, with multiple contacts, the likelihood of death increases. This is possible if several adult hornets attack.

Most cases of contact with pests are united by a common reaction: severe allergic manifestations due to the presence of histamines in the toxic substance; swelling, onset inflammatory process as a result of the presence of protein toxins; strong pain sensations.

When a huge Asian hornet bites, the symptoms can be different. It all depends on how the body reacts to third-party substances. In addition to the main manifestations (swelling, redness), other symptoms may also occur: fever, headache, tachycardia.

The body's first response to stinging is soft tissue swelling.

The body of some patients is extremely sensitive, so even a single bite leads to death, which precedes anaphylactic shock. Usually, with a multiple attack on a physically healthy and less sensitive organism, tissue necrosis and hemorrhage are noted as a result of damage to internal organs.

Harm and benefit of insects

Significant harm and serious consequences as a result of contact with a giant hornet occur only if a person provoked an insect with his actions (more often with sudden movements and an attempt to get closer). A pest of this species is not characterized by unlimited aggression. However, he is able to actively defend himself and his nest if he feels threatened. Nevertheless, 40-100 people die from the poison of these insects per year.

The giant Asian bumblebee (the so-called hornet) causes the main harm to apiaries. It destroys the beekeeper's possessions in a matter of hours. Of course, this will require a group of insects. One hornet will not cope with a large number of bees. The fastest is the destruction of European bees, as they are harmless.

Asian honey insects are able to attack a giant pest in a large group. At the same time, the bees begin to actively flap their wings, clinging to the hornet. It dies from a sharp rise in temperature within the radius of a living ball of honey insects.

They cause more damage to apiaries, especially where less aggressive European bees are bred.

By and large, Asian hornets bring more benefits. They feed on insects that destroy cultivated plants agricultural land, as well as forest pests. For this reason, it is not recommended to massively destroy hornets. Better take precautions.

Interesting video: Lifestyle and habits of the giant hornet

How to protect yourself from insect bites?

AT natural environment Pests attack if they feel threatened. More often this happens when a person comes too close to the nest.

To minimize Negative consequences from meeting with a hornet, it is recommended to follow a number of rules:

  • You need to look carefully at the forest area.
  • Having found a nest, you can not approach it, and even more so try to touch or destroy it.
  • Seeing a giant hornet, you do not need to catch it.
  • Harsh hand movements are perceived by pests as a threat.
  • Once near the nest, you do not need to try to protect yourself by killing the insect. There are often other shelter defenders nearby who will react quickly to such actions.
  • Considering that the hornet eats berries and fruits, it is recommended to be careful when picking fruits.
  • The aroma of apple and banana provokes a pest, so it is not recommended to use products with such fragrances when going to a forest area.
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The Asian hornet is one of the largest insects that can cause real panic in humans. Indeed, due to its size, it is always noticeable and at the same time in flight it looks more like a small bird, which is why in some countries it is called that - a sparrow bee. In addition, this creature is also very harmful - a flock of such hornets can cause serious damage to beekeeping, and their bites are very dangerous for humans.

It is not for nothing that the Asian hornet is called giant - among adults there are quite large specimens with body sizes of more than 5 cm.

Description

In Latin, the name of this hornet sounds like vespa mandarinia. These insects are noticeably larger than other hornets and the body length of representatives of most subspecies is 5 cm. At the same time, the wingspan of such individuals sometimes reaches 7.5 cm.

On a note! The body length of an adult hornet from the head to the extreme point of the abdomen is commensurate with the little finger of an adult, and if he spreads his wings, they will surely block most palms!

The Asian giant hornet belongs to the Real wasp family and has a characteristic appearance for its representatives: the body is painted in yellow, several transverse black stripes pass along it, the base of the abdomen is brown, the head is yellow, the cephalothorax is almost black. There are three pairs of legs.

As you can see in the photo, the most big hornet in the world has five eyes: one pair is the main one (these eyes are the largest) and three more eyes are located between them.

On closer examination, the appearance of the Asian hornet seems even more unusual - it looks more like an alien creature than an insect.

There are several subspecies of the Asian hornet in the world, each of which has its own habitat: Korea, Middle and East Asia, India, Nepal, Russia (Primorsky Territory). And among others, the most famous in scientific circles is the inhabitant of the Japanese islands - Vespa mandarinia japonica. The Japanese hornet has an appearance similar to Asian "relatives": a large body, the length of which is about 4 cm, and an impressive wingspan of 6 cm. The range of this subspecies is limited to the above territory, where it occurs mainly in forest areas.

Nature gave such dimensions to the Asian hornet for a reason. Their ability to live normally depends on them, and this is primarily due to the distribution area. this insect. As you know, it is very hot in Asia, and therefore large creatures it is much easier to survive - with a large body area, they are able to give off a sufficient amount of heat to the environment. Small insects quickly die from overheating.

Biology

Asian giant hornets live in the same way as other "relatives" - families, or colonies. These insects build their nests in forests, often in close proximity to ponds and other water sources. The construction of such a nest is started by the female - in the first combs she lays the laid eggs and grows the offspring that has appeared from them on her own. During this period, she takes care of the larvae, protects them and feeds them. After a few weeks, the larvae turn into young hornets, which take over all the duties: they get food, butcher the bodies of the caught victims, feed the newly hatched larvae and protect the nest from enemies. The next grown hornets are already able to mate and breed.

On a note! The number of one colony can reach about 300 individuals, but even after that, the female continues to lay eggs - all her duties come down to this process!

Over time, the colony of Asian hornets is replenished with new males and females, and when their numbers become too high, they leave the overcrowded nest and mate outside of it. In the future, fertilized females look for suitable places to build nests and become the founders of new colonies, and males die.

The resettlement and establishment of new families in Asian hornets occurs once a year.

Nest

To build nests, females use chewed pieces of young bark, which they fasten together with salivary secretions. At first, the nest has a very modest size - these are several cells with eggs laid in them. With the replenishment of the family, the nest also grows, gradually turning into a rather large gray cocoon, the height of which can reach 0.8 m, and the width - 0.5 m.

The expansion of the nest and the development of hornets in it occurs throughout the warm season. With the advent of the rainy season or with the onset of winter, all its inhabitants die, and the female stops laying eggs. Thus, the nest exists for no more than one year.

Hornets can build their nests on open areas, simply hanging the dwelling from the branches of a tree, and in secluded places, for example, in holes, caves and hollows

Food

The basis of the diet of vespa mandarinia is food of animal origin - various arthropods. Adults, unlike larvae, can also eat berries, fruits, and fish carcasses thrown ashore.

Japanese giant hornets very often raid the nests of their small "relatives": more often bees, less often wasps and hornets of other species with more modest body sizes. At the same time, hunters act with particular cruelty, ruining the entire nest and killing absolutely all of its inhabitants. The prey are larvae and pupae of bees, as well as sweet honey. Hornets carry all trophies to their nest, where they later use them for their own food and survival.

On a note! A small flock of Asian hornets (30-40 individuals) is capable of destroying a bee colony of about 20-30 thousand individuals in just a couple of hours!

Due to such attacks, beekeeping farms are very hard hit.

It is noteworthy that the huge Asian hornet, having a very poisonous sting, practically does not use it for hunting. He kills prey with the help of powerful jaws located in front of the head - with them the hornet easily splits the chitinous covers of its victims. Thus, bees, modest in size, turn out to be very easy prey for these giants, and are unable to withstand several hornets.

Apiary owners usually deal with these winged pests with drastic measures. They find a nest and burn it, drown it, or destroy its inhabitants with insecticides. The main thing in this matter is to be able to get as close as possible to the enemy's lair and remain unnoticed. But sometimes the bees find a way to protect themselves, but they succeed only when only one hornet, the scout, enters the hive. Bees surround the stranger and very quickly create a cocoon around him. As a result, the hornet dies from high temperature. If the scout remains unnoticed, then he marks the hive with his secret and after a while arrives with reinforcements.

Human danger

Asian hornets are very dangerous. Their main weapon against humans is a long sting, reaching 6 mm in length, with the help of which insects inject nerve poison into the offender's body.

On a note! The bite of the Asian hornet is very painful, which is why this insect has received another nickname - "tiger bee"! Entomologist Masato Ohno, who was bitten, described his feelings as follows: “It felt like a hot nail was stuck in my leg!”

The giant Asian hornet is considered one of the most dangerous insects in the world

The most dangerous poison of the Asian hornet is for people allergic to insect stings, in particular, wasps and bees. In this case, rapid development anaphylactic shock which will require urgent hospitalization. However, even in the absence allergic reaction such regret can cause very significant discomfort and provoke a deterioration in well-being. The reason for this is the composition of the poison, which includes mandorotoxin - this is a neurotoxin, which is extremely dangerous substance, as well as acetylcholine, which attracts other hornets.

Poisonous substances contained in the venom of the Asian hornet act primarily on nervous system and at the same time can contribute to the development of symptoms such as:

  • intense throbbing pain at the site of the bite;
  • rapid extensive inflammation of the tissues;
  • redness in the affected area;
  • tissue hardening;
  • Strong headache;
  • dizziness;
  • dyspnea;
  • cardiopalmus;
  • swollen lymph nodes;
  • increase in body temperature.

In case of late delivery medical care tissues at the site of the bite begin to collapse, which, in turn, can cause damage to internal organs located near the affected area, as well as bleeding and hemorrhage.

Important! It is strictly forbidden to comb the stung area and treat it yourself with any alcohol-containing solutions!

However, it is worth noting that without a reason, the giant Asian hornet never attacks. He can show aggression towards a person only in case of a clear threat in relation to him or the nest, which he is called upon to protect. In such situations, the insect will definitely attack and at the same time it can inflict several bites at once.

And since this hornet can use its sting repeatedly, as a result, a person risks getting a rather impressive portion of highly toxic poison.

On a note! According to statistics, about 40 people die every year from the bites of Asian hornets. Sometimes this happens by negligence when people step on a nest in the forest, sometimes when beekeepers protect bee hives when they try to destroy the enemy's lair without personal protective equipment!

Actions on bite

A huge and very dangerous Asian hornet can be found both on the territory of Russia and abroad - in large quantities he lives in Asian countries. And if such an unpleasant meeting happened, then the main rule is not to make any sudden movements. Try not to wave your arms and leave the habitat of this insect as calmly as possible.

On a note! Remember, for no particular reason, the Asian hornet will not attack, and usually the person himself is guilty of his aggression: he is curious or wants to consider amazing insect take a closer look, or try to photograph its nest hidden in the foliage as clearly as possible, and some even try to take the hornet in their hands, forgetting that it has a powerful “weapon”!

And if unpleasant contact could not be avoided, and the Asian hornet bit you or the person next to you, then in this case you need to do the following:

  • immediately apply something very cold to the affected area and hold for a few seconds;
  • then it is advisable to make a compress of wet sugar - thanks to this technique, you can slow down the spread of toxins through the tissues;
  • take an antihistamine, and it is better to make an injection - antihistamines are necessary, especially if there is no certainty that there is no allergy;
  • a person should be laid on his back and put a pillow or a roller of folded clothes under his head - the head should be raised.

If the health of the victim begins to deteriorate rapidly, you should immediately seek medical help.

Entomologists agree that giant hornets can rightfully be called the most dangerous insects in the world. The toxin of this insect, injected into the blood, is so strong that a person can die from one bite. In addition, the Asian and Japanese hornets cause huge damage to beekeeping farms, destroying entire families of bees in just a few hours.

Appearance

In appearance, the hornet resembles a huge wasp. Its length can reach 5 cm, and the wingspan can be up to 7.5 cm. The body has a yellow color with black transverse stripes characteristic of all wasps. The base of the abdomen is brown, the cephalothorax is black, and the head is colored yellow.

The largest hornet in the world, to which the Asian subspecies belongs, has on its head, in addition to the main two eyes, also three additional ones located in the lower part of the forehead in the form of an inverted triangle.

Weapon of attack

The predator infects its prey with a poison injected with a sting that can be used repeatedly. The composition of this complex substance includes:

  1. Mandorotoxin, a neurotoxin that can block the nervous system of humans and animals.
  2. Histamine, which causes severe swelling and allergies, often leading to death.
  3. Toxic substances that melt tissues, which brings unbearable pain to the victim.
  4. Acetylcholine - serves to attract other hornets. Therefore, the bitten victim becomes a bait for other individuals of this dangerous insect.

Immediately after a bite, a person develops inflammation, covering a large area around the affected area, hyperemia, swelling and hardening of tissues. Soon rises general temperature bodies, lymph nodes increase, the pain continues to constantly increase, shortness of breath, headache, and heart rate increase.

In people prone to allergic reactions, asphyxia can develop, leading to death, within a few minutes after the bite. In this case, only a very quick hospitalization can save.

Development cycle

Most hornets live in forests near open water bodies. Waking up from hibernation in May, the queen uterus begins to gnaw the bark of trees, which, after chewing, turns into a mass resembling parchment paper. From it, the insect builds a hive that can hang freely on a tree in the form of a giant pear-shaped fruit or be hidden in caves, hollows or the ground.

After the construction is completed, the female lays eggs in combs, the number of which can reach 500 pieces, and clogs them tightly. Larvae from eggs develop from 5 to 8 days, held in a cell by a sticky secret. Then they begin to scrape the walls, signaling hunger. Adult individuals feed them with killed insects, having previously digested them in their oral cavity.

Thanks to metamorphosis, full-fledged working females and drones develop from the larvae in 2 weeks, which continue to build the nest while the queen is laying eggs.

By the beginning of the first cold weather, the uterus, working hornets and drones die. Only fertilized females remain and hibernate in order to give birth again to thousands of new individuals in the spring.

Hunting features

At first glance, it may seem that the Asian hornet and representatives of its subspecies are insatiable cold-blooded killers. But, in fairness, it is worth clarifying that they get the bulk of food for their offspring. And since there are thousands of larvae in the hive, you need a lot of food.

Throughout the day, scout hornets look for a source of food. Having found a nest of bees, they mark it with a special substance containing pheromones, on which the rest of the hornets flock. These aggressive insects are capable of destroying a bee colony of 30,000 individuals at a time. As trophies, the killers take honey, the corpses of bees, their larvae and pupae.

Bees cannot resist a group of giant hornets, but sometimes they succeed in destroying a scout who gives a signal. By this they can save themselves and their offspring from attack.

Noticing the approach of the enemy, fighting bees transmit information about the danger to the rest. Several "kamikaze" individuals sacrifice themselves, luring the hornet into the hive. There, other bees surround it with a dense ring and begin to quickly vibrate with their bellies, thereby increasing the air temperature to 50 ° C, which is detrimental to hornets. This happens for twenty minutes, during which some defenders die, but others immediately take their place in order to prevent the still living predator from breaking through the defenses.

For single individuals of insects, everything is more tragic. The predator attacks with lightning speed and injects poison, after which it gnaws the body of its prey with a pair of powerful jaws. For example, the huge Asian hornet can decapitate a praying mantis with just one bite.

Rules of conduct near nests

The huge Asian hornet is not a solitary predator, but settles in colonies. Feeling threatened, it begins to secrete a hormone that alerts other individuals of danger and gives a signal to attack.

Therefore, being near the hive, you can not:

  • make sudden movements
  • knock on trees
  • disturb the nest itself,
  • panic and try to run away.

It is very dangerous to kill a hornet near his home, because during the death the insect manages to transmit an alarm signal, which provokes representatives of his family to aggression. All this can provoke an attack of hornets and lead to rather sad consequences.

A respectful attitude towards other inhabitants of our planet will help maintain a balance in nature and prevent the attack of a dangerous predator.

The Asian hornet is one of the largest insects that can cause real panic in humans. Indeed, due to its size, it is always noticeable and at the same time in flight it looks more like a small bird, which is why in some countries it is called that - a sparrow bee. In addition, this creature is also very harmful - a flock of such hornets can cause serious damage to beekeeping, and their bites are very dangerous for humans.

Description

In Latin, the name of this hornet sounds like vespa mandarinia. These insects are noticeably larger than other hornets and the body length of representatives of most subspecies is 5 cm. At the same time, the wingspan of such individuals sometimes reaches 7.5 cm.

On a note! The body length of an adult hornet from the head to the extreme point of the abdomen is commensurate with the little finger of an adult, and if he spreads his wings, they will surely cover most of the palm!

The Asian giant hornet belongs to the Real wasp family and has a characteristic appearance for its representatives: the body is yellow, several transverse black stripes pass through it, the base of the abdomen is brown, the head is yellow, the cephalothorax is almost black. There are three pairs of legs.

The largest hornet in the world has five eyes: one pair is the main one (these eyes are the largest) and three more eyes are located between them.

There are several subspecies of the Asian hornet in the world, each of which has its own habitat: Korea, Central and East Asia, India, Nepal, Russia (Primorsky Territory). And among others, the most famous in scientific circles is the inhabitant of the Japanese islands - Vespa mandarinia japonica. The Japanese hornet has an appearance similar to Asian "relatives": a large body, the length of which is about 4 cm, and an impressive wingspan of 6 cm. The range of this subspecies is limited to the above territory, where it occurs mainly in forest areas.

Nature gave such dimensions to the Asian hornet for a reason. Its ability to normal life largely depends on them, and this is primarily due to the distribution area of ​​\u200b\u200bthis insect. As you know, it is very hot in Asia, and therefore it is much easier for large creatures to survive - with a large body area, they are able to give off a sufficient amount of heat to the environment. Small insects quickly die from overheating.

Biology

Asian giant hornets live in the same way as other "relatives" - families, or colonies. These insects build their nests in forests, often in close proximity to ponds and other water sources. The construction of such a nest is started by the female - in the first combs she lays the laid eggs and grows the offspring that has appeared from them on her own. During this period, she takes care of the larvae, protects them and feeds them. After a few weeks, the larvae turn into young hornets, which take over all the duties: they get food, butcher the bodies of the caught victims, feed the newly hatched larvae and protect the nest from enemies. The next grown hornets are already able to mate and breed.

On a note! The number of one colony can reach about 300 individuals, but even after that, the female continues to lay eggs - all her duties come down to this process!

Over time, the colony of Asian hornets is replenished with new males and females, and when their numbers become too high, they leave the overcrowded nest and mate outside of it. In the future, fertilized females look for suitable places to build nests and become the founders of new colonies, and males die.

Nest

To build nests, females use chewed pieces of young bark, which they fasten together with salivary secretions. At first, the nest has a very modest size - these are several cells with eggs laid in them. With the replenishment of the family, the nest also grows, gradually turning into a rather large gray cocoon, the height of which can reach 0.8 m, and the width - 0.5 m.

The expansion of the nest and the development of hornets in it occurs throughout the warm season. With the advent of the rainy season or with the onset of winter, all its inhabitants die, and the female stops laying eggs. Thus, the nest exists for no more than one year.

Food

The basis of the diet of vespa mandarinia is food of animal origin - various arthropods. Adults, unlike larvae, can also eat berries, fruits, and fish carcasses thrown ashore.

Japanese giant hornets very often raid the nests of their small "relatives": more often bees, less often wasps and hornets of other species with more modest body sizes. At the same time, hunters act with particular cruelty, ruining the entire nest and killing absolutely all of its inhabitants. The prey are larvae and pupae of bees, as well as sweet honey. Hornets carry all trophies to their nest, where they later use them for their own food and survival.

On a note! A small flock of Asian hornets (30-40 individuals) is capable of destroying a bee colony of about 20-30 thousand individuals in just a couple of hours!

It is noteworthy that the huge Asian hornet, having a very poisonous sting, practically does not use it for hunting. He kills prey with the help of powerful jaws located in front of the head - with them the hornet easily splits the chitinous covers of its victims. Thus, bees, modest in size, turn out to be very easy prey for these giants, and are unable to withstand several hornets.


Apiary owners usually deal with these winged pests with drastic measures. They find a nest and burn it, drown it, or destroy its inhabitants with insecticides. The main thing in this matter is to be able to get as close as possible to the enemy's lair and remain unnoticed. But sometimes the bees find a way to protect themselves, but they succeed only when only one hornet, the scout, enters the hive. Bees surround the stranger and very quickly create a cocoon around him. As a result, the hornet dies from high temperature. If the scout remains unnoticed, then he marks the hive with his secret and after a while arrives with reinforcements.

Human danger

Asian hornets are very dangerous. Their main weapon against humans is a long sting, reaching 6 mm in length, with the help of which insects inject nerve poison into the offender's body.

On a note! The bite of the Asian hornet is very painful, which is why this insect has received another nickname - "tiger bee"! Entomologist Masato Ohno, who was bitten, described his feelings as follows: “It felt like a hot nail was stuck in my leg!”

The giant Asian hornet is considered one of the most dangerous insects in the world.

The most dangerous poison of the Asian hornet is for people allergic to insect stings, in particular, wasps and bees. In this case, the rapid development of anaphylactic shock is possible, which will require urgent hospitalization. However, even in the absence of an allergic reaction, such regret can cause very significant discomfort and provoke a deterioration in well-being. The reason for this is the composition of the poison, which includes mandorotoxin - a neurotoxin, which is an extremely dangerous substance, as well as acetylcholine, which attracts other hornets.

The toxic substances contained in the venom of the Asian hornet act primarily on the nervous system and at the same time can contribute to the development of symptoms such as:

  • intense throbbing pain at the site of the bite;
  • rapid extensive inflammation of the tissues;
  • redness in the affected area;
  • tissue hardening;
  • Strong headache;
  • dizziness;
  • dyspnea;
  • cardiopalmus;
  • swollen lymph nodes;
  • increase in body temperature.

If medical care is not provided in time, the tissues at the site of the bite begin to collapse, which, in turn, can cause damage to internal organs located near the affected area, as well as bleeding and hemorrhage.

Important! It is strictly forbidden to comb the stung area and treat it yourself with any alcohol-containing solutions!

However, it is worth noting that without a reason, the giant Asian hornet never attacks. He can show aggression towards a person only in case of a clear threat in relation to him or the nest, which he is called upon to protect. In such situations, the insect will definitely attack and at the same time it can inflict several bites at once.

On a note! According to statistics, about 40 people die every year from the bites of Asian hornets. Sometimes this happens by negligence when people step on a nest in the forest, sometimes when beekeepers protect bee hives when they try to destroy the enemy's lair without personal protective equipment!

Actions on bite

A huge and very dangerous Asian hornet can be found both on the territory of Russia and abroad - it lives in large numbers in Asian countries. And if such an unpleasant meeting happened, then the main rule is not to make any sudden movements. Try not to wave your arms and leave the habitat of this insect as calmly as possible.

On a note! Remember, without any special reason, the Asian hornet will not attack, and usually the person himself is guilty of his aggression: the curious either wants to take a closer look at the amazing insect, or tries to photograph its nest hidden in the foliage as clearly as possible, and some even try to take the hornet into hands, forgetting that he has a powerful "weapon"!

And if unpleasant contact could not be avoided, and the Asian hornet bit you or the person next to you, then in this case you need to do the following:

  • immediately apply something very cold to the affected area and hold for a few seconds;
  • then it is advisable to make a compress of wet sugar - thanks to this technique, you can slow down the spread of toxins through the tissues;
  • take an antihistamine, and it is better to make an injection - antihistamines are necessary, especially if there is no certainty that there is no allergy;
  • a person should be laid on his back and put a pillow or a roller of folded clothes under his head - the head should be raised.

If the health of the victim begins to deteriorate rapidly, you should immediately seek medical help.