#hornets

wtf nature.

Addressing the Asian Giant Hornet

The Asian giant hornet, also known as the northern giant hornet or the Japanese giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia) is a species of hornet native to eastern and southeast Asia, including the island of Japan. They are primarily associated with deciduous forests and low mountain areas, although they will also occasionally build nests in green urban areas such as parks, gardens, and agricultural plots.

The northern giant hornet holds the place for the largest species of hornet. Queens may be over 5 cm (1.9 in) in length, while males and workers are typically between 3.5 to 3.9 cm (1.3 to 1.5 in) in length. Both sexes are virtually identical, aside from their size and the fact that males lack stingers. They have a bright yellow head, a black thorax, and an abdomen that alternates in black and yellow stripes.

The nests V. mandarina builds are typically underground, especially at the base of trees. Their nesting habits follow a cycle which begins with a queen emerging from hibernation in mid-April. Fertilized queens then seek out a suitable nesting site and begin laying their eggs. A typical colony begins with about 40 workers, and can grow to over 100 workers by July. During the summer, the queen will continue laying eggs; fertilized eggs hatch into females, while unfertilized eggs hatch into males. In the fall, the original queen dies and the remaining males and females abandon the nest. During this time, they also mate, and the queens then bury themselves in the soil to hibernate over the winter, while the males die off.

The Asian giant hornet is a major predator of other insects including bees, beetles, hornworms, and preying mantises. They are known for their unique method of attacking beehives as a group; up to 50 workers are capable of wiping out an entire hive in a matter of hours. The remains are usually carried back to the nest to feed the queen and emerging larvae first, and the rest of the workers after. Adults will also feed on tree sap, especially when first emerging from hibernation. V. mandarina is only predated upon by honey buzzards, or by other members of their own species. Both to deter predators and take down their prey, Japanese giant hornets have an extremely painful sting.

Conservation status: The Asian giant hornet has not been rated by the IUCN. Within their native range, they are widespread and have a robust population. From 2019-2021 nests were identified along the Pacific northwest coast of the North America; however, the nests were eradicated, and no new nests have been reported since 2022.

Photos

Thomas Brown

Alastair Macewen