Saturday, March 29, 2008

Giant Asian Hornet



The Asian, or Japanese hornet is the largest and most fearsome hornet in the world. It can be as big as 45 mm long (that's almost 2 inches), and its stinger is over 6 mm in length (a quarter of an inch!). Wingspan is up to 3 inches.

The venom from this hornet contains an enzyme which will dissolve bone and tissue, and can be fatal if the person stung is small, or has an allergic reaction. More than 40 people are killed each year by stings from this hornet. Those who have been stung and lived have described its sting as excrutiatingly painful.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_giant_hornet

http://www.worsleyschool.net/science/files/japanese/hornet.html

http://insects.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_insect_from_hell



2 comments:

cube said...

Why is this guy holding one?????

Chandira said...

Cube, that was my question too!!! Eeek!!