Vespa mandarinia

[Sheri]

Kindergarten project. They had to make an insect. After hearing about toilette paper roll bees... we had to do it.

Actually, though, these bugs are cool as hell, despite my intense fear of flying venomous insects.

Anyone ever study these? Been stung? I'd be interested in hearing about it. There is a really well done show about them that I've seen occasionally on Animal Planet. They're totally ruthless and very pretty. (Still glad we don't have them here though.)

 

[Stylopidae]

Are those the japanese hornets?

Yes...those are cool. Very dangerous to honeybee populations, only a handful (like 2 or 3) can wipe out a european honeybee colony within an hour or so.

The japanese bees have an interesting method of taking care of those hornets, as well.

I've always wanted a colony of hornets, but I'm fairly certian cleaning the tank would be a bitch.

 

[Tleilaxu]

They have also been unable to "persuade" the queens to set up colonies in captive conditions, one sting can but not always could kill you.

 

[Stylopidae]

Ummm...can I see proof of that in a scientiffic or medical journal?

If you're allergic, then yeah...but from what I've heard, vespid stings are only painful and not deadly.

Could be wrong, though. I often am.

 

[Tleilaxu]

Here you go. This just goes for Vespa mandarinia japonica. I should have clarified that in my previous post.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_hornet

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/10/1012_051012_hornet_video.html

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/10/1025_021025_GiantHornets.html

Are these acceptable?

 

[lucanidae]

Here you will find the LD50 of this wasp and its kin. It does appear that a severe sting could potentially kill a small child or older person. However, a google search for the species revealed all the information given in this thread already, most notably unnoficcial sources about their potential lethal sting, and how Japanese Apis sp. will swarm the vespids and kill them through overheating.

Schimdt J. et al. HORNET VENOMS LETHALITIES AND LETHAL CAPACITIES Toxicon 1986 24(9): 950-954

From the paper: "V. mandarinia and V. tropica are the most venomous known insects"

 

[Sheri]

Not a nest you want to stumble into, for sure.

I really like them. From far, far away.

 

[Tleilaxu]

I've always wanted a colony of hornets, but I'm fairly certian cleaning the tank would be a bitch.

Paper wasps are fairly easy to work with. Just put their nest far away from the entrance to the cage and do what you need to do when they are also far from the entrance, and if you go slow they ingnore you.

 

[lucanidae]

Sweet sweet videos, that is a must watch!

 

[Stylopidae]

Yup...wiki is fairly accurate and natgeo is VERY reliable.

Although, the articles did imply that most of the 40 people killed per year died from allergic reactions and not the venom.

If the venom was as good at dissolving flesh as the articles claim, I have no doubt at all that they would have nary a problem killing a youngun or a geezer.

 

[Randolph XX()]

it's not the most dangerous sp compare to Vespa basalis in Taiwan WHICH KILL MORE PEOPLE EACH YEAR
also the underground nests of V.mandarina are not often encounterd by humans, but the sting can punture through clothes

 

[Waspman]

Cool project!

I wish the U.S. had a native true hornet. Vespa crabro is cool, but it's an imported species.

Keeping a hornet colony is possible. I have tried for the past few years to persuade yellowjacket queens collected during hibernation to initiate a nest. They're not hornets, but they're quite similar. All of the attempts failed. I believe the best method is to find a young nest and relocate it to a desired spot.

 

[Alakdan]

I also make papercraft and I stumbled upon this link.

Vespa keepers might be interested.

http://www.wombat.zaq.ne.jp/fare/vespa.html

 

[bhoeschcod]

What ever you do don't go with yellow jackets as they stress easy[trust me!]