Murder Hornet Size report
By seeing this nickname: murder hornet, you can know that they are incredibly threatening. According to this nickname, you might think that the attacks of these tiny insects are enough to kill humans, but this is not the case. Although the murder hornets, known as the Asian giant hornet (Vespa), are generally more aggressive and larger than the average hornet, they are not as terrifying as their bad reputation.
They feed on all kinds of insects, so they play a significant role in controlling natural pests and diseases. The hornets live in a small area, mainly distributed in Pakistan, southern China, and other East Asian countries. But biologists have already found them in the Americas and other places, and it is clear that the invasion of species has become global trouble.
In Japan, the Asian giant hornets kill up to 50 people a year. Now, they have arrived in the United States. Have you ever seen these giant hornets in your daily life? The following article will briefly introduce details of the Asian giant hornet sizes and behaviors.
Murder Hornet Size Guide
Asian giant hornets are social insects and live in a nest with a queen and several workers. The Asian giant hornet, as you may have guessed from its name, is a hornet native to Asia. It is also the largest hornet globally, with queens growing over 2 inches in length and workers growing up to about an inch and a half in length, five times the size and 20 times the weight of a honey bee.
Facts about Murder Hornet Size
Hornets are known for hunting alone, and the Asian giant hornet will group for mass attacks on yellowjacket, honey bee, and paper wasp nests. These hornets are known for their violent predatory behaviors toward other insects like honey bees and yellowjackets. These Asian giant hornets can devastate a hive of bees in six hours or less. It destroys the entire packs of thousands of bees by cutting bees' heads and then steals their honey and bee larvae. The following are details about their size.
- Murder Hornet or Asian Giant Hornet is the largest species of Hornet in the world. It can reach 1.5 to 2 inches in length.
- It has a wingspan of 3 inches.
- Asian giant hornets have a 6-millimeter long stinger (0.24 inches) that repeatedly stings their victims.
- Asian giant hornets have a yellow-orange colored head with a black to brown thorax, black mandibles, and a black and golden body.
- The Asian giant hornets can fly up to 62 miles (100 kilometers) in a single day at speeds of 25 mph (40 km/h).
Difference Between Bees, Wasp, and Hornets
These three species' sizes are range from the smallest to the largest. You can find their differences in the following table.
| Bees | Wasp | Hornets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| color | golden yellow with black stripes | bright yellow and with black rings | black and white rings instead of yellow and black. |
| sting | only sting once | can sting more than once during an attack | can sting multiple times， and their venom can be deadly for those with allergies |
| behavior | collect pollen and pollinate flowers | carnivorous, eat other insects | very aggressive |
| Multiplication | only honey | Lay eggs in the body of other organisms | Lay eggs in their high nest |
How to Protect yourself from Murder Hornet attack
Murder hornets are omnivores and eat a range of insects, particularly beetles, as well as tree sap and fruit. According to professions, the Asian giant hornet has a powerful sting that can be hazardous to human health. They have potent venom and stinger long enough to puncture a beekeeping suit. Although humans are not typically the main target of an attack, these hornets are known to defend their nests fiercely. Here are some helpful tips:
- Stop getting close to any wasp or hornets, never swat at a wasp and never approach a nest hive.
- If you have seen a wasp nest around your home, you should contact a professional pest removal company to remove it safely.
- If an Asian wasp attacks you, you should immediately seek professional treatment from thousands of hospitals.
In most cases, if you respect their space and let them live normally, humans can peacefully co-exist with murder hornets. I hope the above article can give you a better understanding of this species.
