Hellish horrors that can melt your flesh: Japanese Giant Hornets

That’s not a model, it’s real.

Of the conservatively estimated 6 to 10 million species of insects, perhaps none is as aggressive–nor as potentially deadly–as the Japanese Giant Hornet (vespa mandarinia japonica). It’s one of the most aggressive insects in the world, can shoot flesh-melting acid at you (it aims for the eyes) and only a couple stings is enough to kill most people.

From Wikipedia: The Japanese giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia japonica), is a subspecies of the Asian giant hornet (V. mandarinia). It is a large insect…with a wingspan greater than 2.4 inches. It has a large yellow head with large eyes, and a dark brown thorax with an abdomen banded in brown and yellow. The Japanese giant hornet has three small, simple eyes on the top of the head between the two large compound eyes.

Folks, that guy is insane!

That doesn’t sound too bad, does it? Well, bland, studious descriptions don’t scratch the surface of this bug. The real facts are much more disturbing.

Imagine for a moment a bug bigger than your thumb that’s built like a tank and can fly like a fighter jet. Imagine that this bug is relentless killer, single-minded in destroying whatever enemy might threaten it–including you, if it perceives you as a threat.

But you don’t have to imagine it. They’re real.

A couple stings and you’re history…

If one of these relentless killers zeroes in on you, seek the nearest shelter as fast as you can. Don’t try to fight it off; you won’t win. Just 30 of these things have been known to annihilate hives containing 30,000 bees.

If you are unlucky enough to become a target of the world’s deadliest hornet, run. Once it stings you the hornet releases an airborne pheromone that’s a chemical call for help. The message is whisked back to the hornet’s home base–its nest–and rallies all its comrades. A swarm of enraged hornets will join its buddy in the attack. Remember: only a very few stings will result in almost certain death.

Bloated remains of the hornets’ attack

Protect your eyes

This insidious hornet has a virtual arsenal of weapons at its beck and call. One of the worse–other than its toxic sting–is its ability to shoot out a stream of acid that immediately goes to work melting flesh. Its favorite target? The eyes. Once a victim is blinded it cannot escape and the arriving swarm makes short work of the hapless enemy.

The last thing you want to see coming at you.

“Fun” facts

The Japanese giant hornet can out fly a running human. The hornet can maintain a flight speed of 25 miles per hours–more with a tailwind. It can travel more than 60 miles in one day. Dozens die in Japan each year from the hornet’s vicious attacks, while thousands more must seek medical help. Those poor souls that are attacked suffer excruciating pain; those that are killed die in agony.

Stinger goes deeper than most hypodermics

Energy drink?

An enterprising Japanese firm has recently introduced a synthetic energy drink named Vaam. Although not a very well known sports drink it’s been gaining recognition among professional athletes. The formula purports to contain a synthetic version of the chemical concoction boosting the Japanese Giant Hornet’s strength and stamina. Allegedly some Japanese athletes have been drinking Vaam and believe it’s positively affected their athletic abilities.

If any of them are runners, being chased by a swarm of those bugs would probably work just as well. The athletes might even pump enough adrenalin to achieve the two-minute mile.

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© Copyright AYM Communications. 2010