Hornets:
According to a recent study, a species of hornet that often munches on foods containing alcohol can hold its liquor, without any side effects, at levels that no other known animal can tolerate.
- Hornets are a breed of social wasps, living in large, highly organized colonies.
- They are a group of 20 species occurring naturally only in Asia, Europe, and Africa, with one species introduced to North America.
- Hornets belong to the insect family Vespidae.
- This family contains each species of hornets as well as wasps such as yellow jackets, paper wasps, potter wasps, and pollen wasps.
- Hornets tend to be black or brown with yellow or yellowish markings.
- Due to their size, hornets have a reputation for being more dangerous than other wasp species, though they are not always more aggressive.
- Hornets release more venom per sting than any other stinging insect.
- One species, the northern giant hornet, or Asian giant hornet (V. mandarinia), which is native to Asia, is the largest known wasp species in the world.
- Typically, hornets like to build their nests in high areas.
- Hornets are known to have a rich diet of sugar and protein, among other things.
- They prey on other insects, including honeybees and social wasps, and chew them into a paste as food for their larvae.
