The huge (up to 4cm long and wingspan of 7cm) relentless hunter and very dangerous for European honey bees as well as native bees and insects. They can decimate bee colonies in days. They decapitate the bees, take the hive as their own and take the bee brood to feed their young. They can attack people if threatened, and have a highly toxic venom and have caused deaths in Japan. Interestingly, native Japanese honey bees have co-evolved with Asian giant hornets and are able to defend themselves.