Finding a nest on Vancouver Island was definitely an anomaly as Asian giant hornets, much like their name implies, are endemic to the Asian continent. Countries known for their presence include China, Taiwan and southern parts of Russia. They’re also found throughout Indochina, in countries like India, Thailand, Nepal, Vietnam or Cambodia. Rural Japan is where Vespa mandarinia is most common, where it’s colloquially known as the “giant sparrow bee”. These hornets typically nest in lowland forests and low mountain foothills. The hornets will create their own tunnels, which are often an extension of those already dug by burrowing animals, such as snakes or rodents. Asian giant hornets are eusocial animals, with a queen, which is considerably larger than the others, drones and workers.
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