{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Taxon",
  "slug": "hornet",
  "name": "Asian Giant Hornet",
  "scientificName": "Vespa mandarinia",
  "category": "Insect",
  "summary": "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.",
  "conservationStatus": "Least Concern",
  "taxonomy": {
    "kingdom": "Animalia",
    "phylum": "Arthropoda",
    "class": "Insecta",
    "order": "Hymenoptera",
    "family": "Vespidae",
    "genus": "Vespa"
  },
  "stats": {
    "weightKg": 0.001,
    "lengthM": 0.045,
    "topSpeedKmh": 40,
    "lifespanYears": 1
  },
  "facts": [
    {
      "label": "Scientific name",
      "value": "Vespa mandarinia"
    },
    {
      "label": "Diet",
      "value": "Carnivore (insects, especially other bees and wasps)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Habitat",
      "value": "Forests and low mountains"
    },
    {
      "label": "Lifespan",
      "value": "Workers a few weeks; queens about a year"
    },
    {
      "label": "Length",
      "value": "3.5–5 cm (1.4–2 in)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Wingspan",
      "value": "Up to about 7.5 cm (3 in)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Conservation status",
      "value": "Least Concern (IUCN)"
    }
  ],
  "range": {
    "nativeRange": "Forests and low mountains of East and Southeast Asia; the world's largest hornet.",
    "continents": [
      "Asia"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "citation": "IUCN Red List — Vespa mandarinia.",
      "url": "https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Vespa%20mandarinia&searchType=species"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Animal Diversity Web — Vespa mandarinia. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.",
      "url": "https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Vespa_mandarinia/"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Wikipedia — Asian Giant Hornet.",
      "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_giant_hornet"
    }
  ],
  "lastReviewed": "2026-07-16",
  "canonicalUrl": "https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/hornet/",
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
    "attribution": "Global Animal Guide — https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/hornet/",
    "note": "Free to reuse for non-commercial purposes with attribution and a link back to the canonical page."
  }
}