Asian Giant Hornet
Scientific Name: Vespa mandarinia
Order & Family: Hymenoptera, Vespidae
Size: 2.5 to 5.0 centimeters (1 to 2 inches) in length

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