Avoiding Japanese Hornets

I was asked how to avoid coming into contact with the largest hornet in the world, Vespa mandarinia, otherwise known as the Japanese or Asian hornet. These gigantic beauties measure about 2 inches long for their bodies and have a 3 inch wingspan. Their stings can be very painful, sometimes requiring hospitalization! As with most hornets, one should be careful not to approach their nests, which typically would be found high up in trees or sometimes in the eaves of a house. Since these big wasps prey upon other Hymenoptera species, you might want to stay away from beeyards and other places wasps or bees congregate. The Vespa mandarinia are much more interested in their prey than they are in you, so if you do see one (in a garden, for instance), remember to just back slowly away. Screaming, waving one's arms about wildly, or other sudden movements may alarm the wasp and make it think you are threatening it. Even if a wasp lands on you, your best policy is to move slowly, hold still, and wait for it to figure out you are not tasty. Unfortunately, habitat loss is encouraging the wasps to forage in human environments. Since the yellow-jacket type wasps are attracted to human garbage (sweet leftover soda in cans, bits of meat from sandwiches, and the like), more Asian hornets have begun hunting in suburbia. If you wish to avoid contact with them, be sure not to linger near trash cans or leave your picnic goods untended. I hope that was helpful! Let me know if you have any more questions about Vespa mandarinia, and I'll do my best to find the answers.

Oh, and just in case you find these beasties threatening and horrible, realize that some humans do prize them for their performance-enhancing "juice". This is an enzyme produced by the larvae to encourage their parents to feed them! Some folks use it as a sports drink or weight loss aid!

In the meantime, here are the websites I researched for this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_giant_hornet
http://www.vespa-crabro.de/vespa-mandarinia.htm
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article582267.ece
http://www.ehow.com/video_4755679_where-do-japanese-hornets-build.html
http://nutrition.suite101.com/article.cfm/giant_wasp_enzymes_enhance_endurance

Bugs in my Dreams

A week or two ago, I dreamed that a scorpion was in my clothes. However, in my dream, I knew that if I didn't alarm it, it wouldn't sting me. It tickled as I tried to help it find its way out, but its stinger was held flat behind it and not held over its body to sting.

Last night, I dreamed that a mantis with a funny-shaped head, rather like a seed beetle, bit me. It was underfoot in a house my family was building. I noticed it at first and brought it to the attention of my little sister (still a child in my dream). Then we forgot about it, and it turned and bit me. I woke up, and my leg was still itching where it got me.

I have the feeling something's trying to get my attention!