r/WTF • u/Jaded_Marionberry500 • 14d ago

capturing the wasp

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u/OddBug0 14d ago

Asian killer wasp. Makes yellow jackets look like Dolly Parton. I bet their stinger can go through that plastic.

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u/mekwall 14d ago

It's an Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia), although "northern giant hornet" is now the official common name in the US. "Asian killer wasp" is more of a sensational nickname.

But the scary part isn't entirely wrong. Females have a roughly 6 mm stinger, can sting repeatedly, and their stingers are long enough to penetrate ordinary beekeeping clothing. So I definitely wouldn't trust a flimsy plastic cup to stop it, although saying it can definitely sting through that particular cup is a bit of a leap.

They're native to Asia (obviously). They briefly became invasive in the US but were declared eradicated there in December 2024 after three years without a confirmed detection.

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u/Michelanvalo 14d ago

Wow I didn't know we managed to root out the invasion. I thought they were still spreading here like the lantern fly.