The giant Japanese hornet is the epitome of genuine horror and nightmare. Due to its size and very aggressive nature, it has turned into a real monster terrorizing the inhabitants of the Japanese islands. Perhaps someone will think that this is an exaggeration. Not at all. And the material presented below is able to prove the veracity of this statement.
Japanese hornet: view description
This insect representative is a very close relative of the Asian hornet. True, unlike his brothers and sisters, the Japanese hornet lives only on the territory of these islands. Only a few times these insects were found outside their native lands, and it is impossible to say for sure whether it was the same species.
As for appearance, the Japanese hornet is primarily distinguished by its large size. So, the length of his body varies between 4-5 cm, and the wingspan can reach 6-7 cm. Due to similar proportions in Japan, this insect was called the "sparrow bee." True, unlike a peaceful bird, our striped friend does not please people with his singing.
The rest of the Japanese hornet is very similar to its relatives. The entire body of the insect is divided into alternating yellow and black segments. At the same time, unlike bees, the hornet's head is always orange in color. It is on it that the most formidable weapon of the “sparrow bee” is placed - its jaw. Thanks to them, the Japanese hornet can easily bite a small insect, and a larger one can seriously cripple.
Life-threatening insect life cycle
With the arrival of the first spring heat, the life of our hero begins. After all, it was during this period of the year that the uterus that survived the winter were selected from their shelters and sent off in search of a new home. At the same time, it can become either an empty hollow in a tree, or a small hole in the sandy shore.
Having found shelter, the female lays the first batch of larvae. Initially, the role of the breadwinner lies only with the queen, but the little ones need to grow up a bit, and all the worries about managing the house go to them. Now the female’s sole task will be to continue the genus, and everything else should not concern her.
At the end of summer, the Queen produces the last brood of hornets. Among them are those males and females that will continue the mother’s clan after the death of her hive. However, only ladies can survive until next spring. Therefore, mating takes place in early autumn, after which the males die, and the females look for a warm shelter for the winter.
Japanese poison hornet
To begin with, there is indeed a very dangerous toxin in the body of this insect. It is he who poses the greatest danger to others. Even a small amount of this poison, getting under the skin, causes a terrible burning sensation and swelling. In this case, the toxin can be fatal for both animals and humans.
It should be understood quite obvious fact: since it is a giant hornet, it also has a lot of poison. Therefore, by stinging a person, he can inject a horse dose of a deadly substance into his blood, which will inevitably cause an allergic reaction. And in some cases, such “bites” can even lead to anaphylactic shock or even death.
