Asian Giant Hornet vs Japanese Horntail
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Asian Giant Hornet | Japanese Horntail |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Vespa mandarinia | Eriotremex formosanus |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Vespidae | Siricidae |
| Size | 45-55 mm | 20-35 mm |
| Habitat | Forests | Woodlands |
| Diet | Blood Feeders | Wood Feeders |
| Regions | Asia | East Asia, Taiwan, introduced to southeastern United States |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Asian Giant Hornet
The worlds largest hornet. A single colony can kill an entire hive of 30,000 honey bees in just a few hours. Their venom destroys red blood cells and can cause organ failure.
Did You Know?
Asian giant hornets can decapitate 40 honey bees per minute. Japanese honey bees defend themselves by swarming a hornet and vibrating to raise temperature to 47°C — killing it with heat.
Japanese Horntail
A large wood wasp with a robust reddish-brown body and dark wings. Native to East Asia, it attacks stressed and recently felled hardwood trees.
Did You Know?
This species was first detected in North America in 1974 and is one of the few tropical siricid wood wasps to establish invasive populations.