I think it might have been one of these.
The Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia), including the subspecies Japanese giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia Japonica),[1] colloquially known as the yak-killer hornet,[2] is the world's largest hornet, native to temperate and tropical Eastern Asia. Its body length is approximately 50 mm (2 in), with a wingspan of about 76 mm (3 in).
It certainly looks like it.
An allergic human stung by the giant hornet may die from an allergic reaction to the venom, but the venom contains a neurotoxin called mandaratoxin[6] which can be lethal even to people who are not allergic if the dose is sufficient. Each year in Japan, the human death toll caused by Asian giant hornet stings exceeds that of all other venomous and non-venomous wild animals combined, including wild bears and venomous snakes.
Nasty. Doubly glad I didn't stick around in the sitting room to get a picture of it, and that I got Winnie out of its way.
~
5 comments:
Canada sucks, but at least we're safe from all those crazy scary poisonous plants and animals.
I live in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and I've seen one of those before (dead, Deo gratias). Canada beware: you're next.
The Asian giant hornet doesn't have range in Rome or Pittsburgh, however. The European hornet still looks nearly as nasty and big, in any case, and is endemic to Europe; it was brought to America in the 1840s. (http://ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/european-hornet)
Yawn....In Florida, we just call them mosquitoes.
One of those monsters was flying around my house the other day, and I live in Texas. As if being afraid and allergic to the native stinging insects wasn't bad enough, now I have to deal with this one?! No, thank you. I'll send them your way, Florida. Apparently, they aren't as threatening to you guys.
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