The Asian hornet looks like a large wasp with a black head and yellow legs at the ends. It is present in France and smaller than the “giant Asian hornet”. Description and advice in case of stings.
THE asian hornets found in France are part of the species “Vespa velutina“. It is distinguished from European hornet “Vespa crabro” and “Giant Asian Hornet” Or “Vespa mandarinia” (known in Japan because it kills around 40 people a year). “THE asian hornet arrived in our country by accident in 2004then became well established in our environment, begins Stéphane Gayet, infectious disease specialist. It has the same biological requirements as the European hornet. He is a little smaller (about 3 centimeters) but can easily be spotted thanks to its very dark color“. How recognize an asian hornet? What is his size ? Is the Asian hornet sting deadly ? What to do in the event of a sting?
What does an Asian hornet look like?
The Asian hornet looks like a large, dark-colored wasp that measures approximately 3 centimeters. The European hornet is larger (4 cm).
► Sound thorax is black-brown and hairy
► Its legs are yellow at the ends
► His head is black and the face orange-yellow
What is the giant Asian hornet?
The Vespa Mandarinia or “giant Asian hornet” was described in the 19th century by the Englishman Frederick Smith. He is especially present in China, Japan, Korea, Russia, India, Nepal, Burma, Laos and Malaysia. It was spotted in the United States in 2020. “This giant hornet measures 2.5 to 4 cm for workers and 4.5 to 5.5 cm for queens” says Quentin Rome, Head of “Asian Hornet & Hymenoptera” at the National Museum of Natural History in Paris.
The giant hornet is often mistaken for a scolium.
It would have been spotted in France in 2005in the Varas pointed out by a Toxico-vigilance report from the poison control center of 2009, but according to our interlocutor who has been monitoring the Asian hornet in France since 2005 and who regularly receives reports of the giant hornet “each time it is a Scolia or a hornet queen of Europe. I think we can be certain that this first observation of 2005 corresponded to one of these two species”. Japanese Vespa Mandarinia statistics report 30 to 50 annual deaths, 90 to 95% of which are related to an allergy. “On the other hand, they observe every year deaths by multi-visceral damage during multiple bites with rhabdomyolysis, kidney and liver failuremultiple infarcts, respiratory distress. These are very severe paintings much more frequent than in Europe” say the authors. As the species is larger (therefore with more venom) and more aggressive, it is difficult to say if the venom is more toxic than that of the species we have in France or if the victims receive more venom due to the size and behavior of the insect.
What is the danger of the Asian hornet?
“No animal is aggressive if he does not feel threatened, emphasizes Quentin Rome. In wasps, hornets, bees… It is near the nest (less than 5 m) or trying to catch them that we risk being bitten. Otherwise, whatever the species, it will prefer to flee.” It is therefore a defense sting when it occurs: “The Asian hornet does not attack for pleasure, because it is likely to die when it stings. If the sting stays planted, it can bleed out”continues Stéphane Gayet. Like the European hornet, it hunts insects and spiders to feed its larvae. If its harm to the ecosystem is not demonstrated, “It’s a factor additional honey bee attenuationso its impact on beekeeping is not negligible” indicates Quentin Rome.
“It is not recommended to apply ice and to use an aspi-venom in the event of a sting.”
What to do in the event of an Asian hornet sting?
“The hornet sting is like the wasp sting but, more marked and painful“, explains the infectiologist. Then may come a local swelling. “In case of multiple bites (more than 20), there may be headaches” says Quentin Rome. If we know that the person is allergic (symptoms can be generalized hives, redness, itching, swellingedema of the tongue or respiratory tract (thoracic pressure, cyanosis = bluish coloring of the skin), drop in blood pressure, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea), you must immediately call the Samu (15). When you are stung by a hornet, “he is not recommended to apply ice and use aspi-venom, warns Quentin Rome. On the other hand, it is necessary to privilegeapproach a heat source which destroys venom.” Must also disinfect with soap Or other “because it often causes a small local infection”.
► Remove your braces in case of a sting by hand, disinfect with soap and water and possibly with an antiseptic. Approach a heat source (hair dryer, cigarette), by avoiding burning yourself, can reduce the pain.
► If bite in the mouth, throat, multiple bites (more than 20) or if local symptoms worsen, consult a doctor urgently.
Can you die from an Asian hornet sting?
In the vast majority of cases, this is not not a fatal sting. “I am not aware ofno cases of death by envenomation (multiple stings without allergy) in wasps and hornetsreports Quentin Rome. Hornets and wasps colonies are not dense enough, not all of them will sting, and it would take several hundred injections to risk death, apart from allergy. It is in case of allergy to the venom of Hymenoptera (the wasp family) that the risk of death is increased. In babies and young children “The bites can cause edema or lower their blood pressure. Young children can die from it, must therefore immediately contact the emergency services“ recommends Stéphane Gayet.
A hornet’s nest starts out the size of an orange and can reach 60 cm in diameter.
The main risk from Asian hornets comes from hornet nests near houses. At first the nest is small, spherical from the size of an orange Then grows bigger gradually until reaching the size of a soccer ball in summer in the Asian hornet. “In summer, 70% of colonies move to a new (secondary) nest. usually located high in the trees but 30% remain in their primary nest (which can reach like the others 60cm in diameter on average in early autumn)” explains Quentin Rome. Those are the nests built at chest height which present the most dangerwhatever their size, since the major risk is the allergy resulting from a bite, the risk of which is increased if one approaches too close to a nest. Respect a safety distance of 5 m from the nest.
If the nest is close to a dwelling : you can call the fire department. “They only destroy nests if there is an immediate risk or if there is no insect repellent” says Quentin Rome. The cost of destroying nests can possibly be borne by the community (town hall, department, etc.), it is very variable. Otherwise you have to use private companies which can have a high cost, ask before. “You should know that a large part of the population does not discover the big hornet’s nests only when the leaves of the trees fall in late autumn although they had been present since at least the month of June” reports the specialist.
Thanks to Stéphane Gayet, infectiologist and Quentin Rome, “Asian Hornet & Hymenoptera” Manager at UMS PatriNat
National Museum of Natural History (Paris).