General

The biggest wasp in the world. Where lives and what is dangerous

Many of us have had to face wasps inwarm season. For some, this meeting ended very badly. A sharp pain, a burning sensation, a swollen condition at the site of the bite - all this is familiar to us firsthand. Wasps are not for nothing considered one of the most dangerous stinging insects. In some cases, wasp bites, as in other bees, can lead to death. In the world there are a huge number of different types of wasps. Each of them is unique in its own way. But today we will talk about such an wasp, only with one form of which the blood freezes in his veins.

Where does the world's largest wasp dwell?

The largest representatives of the wasps are hornets. In the world there are a little more than 20 species, but against the background of all, I would like to highlight the largest and, perhaps, one of the most poisonous insects in the world. Vespa Mandarinia or the giant Asian hornet. Their size can reach almost 6 centimeters in length, and the wingspan is 7.5 centimeters.

They live, as the name implies, mainly in the countries of Southeast Asia: Korea, China, Japan, and India. Populations of these hornets are also found in the Russian Primorye.

Nests are built from chewed pieces of barktrees held together by sticky salivary secretions. At first, the hornet queen deals with the nest arrangement. At the beginning of the warm season, she lays eggs and searches for food for hatched larvae. A month later, the grown up young hornets take on all the concerns of feeding new larvae and protecting the hive. And the queen is engaged only in the production of new offspring.

Working individuals are engaged in a constant search for food. In the diet unpretentious: eat plant foods that contain sugar (honey, nectar). Adults also prey on insects.

How dangerous is the giant Asian hornet?

Giant asian hornet - real nightnightmare honey bees. According to entomologists, only 30 such “heroes” are able to destroy a 30-thousand colony of bees in just 3 hours. Hornets rarely use a sting to kill their victims. For this purpose, they have powerful jaws, with which they literally gnaw off the victim's head. Little bees against these giants have no chance. After killing a bee or another insect, the giant Asian hornet chews prey into a soft substance and carries it to its hive for feeding the young.

Asian giant hornets live in colonies aroundhalf a year, but during this time they manage to do a lot of mischief. Giant Asian hornets have a very bad reputation among the inhabitants of the countries in which they live. Their bite can be deadly, especially for a person who is sensitive to insect poisons. According to official data, in Japan and China, an average of 40 people die from the bite of a giant wasp annually. Basically, beekeepers trying to protect their bee lands.

With the help of its 6mm sting the hornetinjects poison, which contains several very strong toxins. Getting into soft tissue leads to cell destruction, which is accompanied by instant edema and inflammation. The hornet bite is very painful. In addition, they sting, in contrast to the same bees, can repeatedly. After a bite, the bee loses its sting, but the hornets, like the wasps, retain it. With numerous bites, more and more poison is injected.

“Imagine that you put a red-hot nail or a drill under your skin,” the experienced Asian hornet bite itself describes something like this.

See also: Huge wasp nests found in the USA and impossible to destroy

How to protect against attacks?

Since this insect settles in a colony, thenthe first signs of danger, it allocates a special pheromone, which is a signal of danger to others. Entomologists advise not to provoke insects to aggression: not to approach the hive in which they live, not to try to look into it, not to make sudden movements, to wave their hands. Attack immediately. And in the open area they will catch up with you - they fly very fast. Therefore, being close to the hive, it is better to behave very quietly and slowly leave.

What to do if bitten?

If timely provide first aidaffected by the bite of this insect, serious consequences can most often be avoided. The first step is to check the presence of the sting in the bite site (if the hornet has been slammed at the bite site). Rinse with clean water. When biting, this insect releases only 2 mg of poison. The poison is contained in a special bag. But if the sting is not removed, all the poison will gradually fall into the wound.

The second step should be processing the bite site. If possible, it should be disinfected with a weak solution of potassium permanganate or hydrogen peroxide. First aid should include the provision of abundant drinking regime. To relieve pain, apply ice or a clean piece of cloth moistened with cold water to the site of the bite.

If it is unknown whether a person is allergic tobites, you should immediately take antihistamines. If a person has an allergy, the ambulance may not be in time. After this, it is necessary to consult a doctor.

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