Asian giant hornet
Massive Japanese wasp
Asian giant hornet is the world's largest hornet species, native to East Asia and measuring up to two inches long.
It preys on honeybees and can destroy entire colonies—a threat that prompted alarm when specimens appeared in North America around 2019.
Media dubbed it the "murder hornet," though it rarely attacks humans unprovoked.
Paired arthropod mouthparts
- antennaeSensory appendages on insects
- exoskeletonExternal skeletal structure
- thoraxCentral body cavity
- abdomenTorso's lower cavity
wings · compound eyes · stinger · queen · drone · worker · colony · nest
Severing head from body
Sharp wound from insect
- toxinBiological-origin harm agent
- neurotoxinPoison attacking neural tissue
- envenomationInjection of animal poison
- painfulCausing hurt or ache
anaphylaxis · allergenic · hemolytic · histamine · fatal · swelling · antivenom · medical emergency
Inspiring fear or unease
- menacingConveying threat or danger
- formidableInspiring fear or respect
- large sizeConsiderable physical extent
- aggressiveHostile and confrontational
territorial · sensationalized · misunderstood · viral · headline · alarming · threatening · defensive
Not indigenous to a place
- introduced speciesOrganism relocated by humans
- Pacific NorthwestCoastal American region, northward
- eradicationTotal elimination of something
- quarantineIsolation preventing disease transmission
sightings · tracking · reporting · spread · infestation · biosecurity · monitoring · trapping
mandibles
Paired arthropod mouthparts
- antennaeSensory appendages on insects
- exoskeletonExternal skeletal structure
- thoraxCentral body cavity
abdomen · wings · compound eyes · stinger · queen · drone · worker · colony · nest · larvae
decapitation
Severing head from body
sting
Sharp wound from insect
- toxinBiological-origin harm agent
- neurotoxinPoison attacking neural tissue
- envenomationInjection of animal poison
painful · anaphylaxis · allergenic · hemolytic · histamine · fatal · swelling · antivenom · medical emergency
intimidating
Inspiring fear or unease
- menacingConveying threat or danger
- formidableInspiring fear or respect
- large sizeConsiderable physical extent
aggressive · territorial · sensationalized · misunderstood · viral · headline · alarming · threatening · defensive
nonnative
Not indigenous to a place
- introduced speciesOrganism relocated by humans
- Pacific NorthwestCoastal American region, northward
- eradicationTotal elimination of something
quarantine · sightings · tracking · reporting · spread · infestation · biosecurity · monitoring · trapping · environmental impact
- stinging creaturesbee, wasp, scorpion, fire ant, yellow jacket
- waspswasp, yellow jacket, yellowjacket, paper wasp, common wasp
- hornetsVespa
- Invasive Pestsemerald ash borer, spotted lanternfly, gypsy moth, fire ant, Japanese beetle
- hive pestswax worm, wax worms, death's head moth
Asian giant hornethoneybee
Nectar-gathering social insect
sweat bee · bumblebee · mason bee · carpenter bee · paper wasp
Asia, Asian, Asiatic, giant, giants, giantess, gigantic, gigantism, hornet