by Terrence Aym

Created on: October 24, 2010   Last Updated: October 25, 2010

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.

Facts

From Wikipedia: "The Japanese giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia japonica), is a subspecies of the Asian giant hornet (V. mandarinia). It is a large insect and adults can be more than 4 centimetres (1.6 in) long, with a wingspan greater than 6 centimeters (2.4 in). 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. As the name implies it is endemic to the Japanese islands, where it prefers rural areas where it can find trees to nest in. In Japan it is known as the Oo-Suzumebachi, literally 'Giant Sparrow Bee')."

More facts

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. It's real.

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're 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 of 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.

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

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