Asian Giant Hornet

Scientific Name: Vespa mandarinia

Order & Family: Hymenoptera, Vespidae

Size: 2.5 to 5.0 centimeters (1 to 2 inches) in length

Asian Giant Hornet

Natural Habitat

Low mountains and forests in East and South Asia, occasionally human settlements

Diet & Feeding

Adults consume nectar and tree sap; larvae are fed protein from other insects, especially honey bees and social wasps

Behavior Patterns

Highly social nesters commonly found in ground cavities; known for group attacks on bee hives during 'slaughter' phases to procure larvae for food

Risks & Benefits

Risks include powerful stings that cause localized tissue death or anaphylactic shock in humans; they are an invasive threat to honey bee populations but help control other forest pests

Identified on: 5/4/2026