# How Fast Is An Asian Giant Hornet?

> Asian Giant Hornet top speed is about about 40 km/h. Sprint vs endurance and what limits pace.

- **Species:** Asian Giant Hornet (*Vespa mandarinia*)
- **Conservation status:** Least Concern
- **Diet:** Carnivore (insects, especially other bees and wasps)
- **Habitat:** Forests and low mountains
- **Lifespan:** Workers a few weeks; queens about a year
- **Canonical HTML:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/hornet/how-fast-is-a-hornet/
- **Parent profile:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/hornet/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Quick answer

The Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia) is the world's largest hornet, with queens reaching up to 5 cm long and a wingspan close to 7.5 cm. Native to the forests and low mountains of East and Southeast Asia, it is a powerful predator that hunts other insects and can fly at up to 40 km/h. Colonies last a single year, and despite its fearsome reputation the species is common and listed as Least Concern.

## Who should skip this page

Skip this if you need the full biology — use the [Asian Giant Hornet profile](https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/hornet/) instead.

## The world's largest hornet

The Asian giant hornet earns its name: queens can reach about 5 cm in length, with workers a little smaller at around 3.5 to 4.5 cm, and a wingspan approaching 7.5 cm. Its large orange-yellow head, dark thorax and boldly banded abdomen make it unmistakable. Powerful wings let it fly at speeds of up to 40 km/h and cover long distances in a day. This impressive size and strength make it a formidable hunter of other insects.

## Help protect the Asian Giant Hornet

Even familiar animals lose ground as wild habitat keeps shrinking worldwide.

[Donate to wildlife protection](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/donate/)

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/hornet/how-fast-is-a-hornet/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.