Asian Giant Hornets: Beyond the Sting

Under the cloak of the night, my field partner Theja and I commenced an extraordinary journey deep into the heart of the Kami Village in Nagaland’s remote Phek district. Guided by the faint gleam of stars above and an elderly villager, Uncle Azo, an expert in hornet harvesting, we walked uphill. The dense forest canopy made our path even darker, and the creepy understory felt almost impenetrable. A not-so-gentle drizzle made the already enchanting surroundings even more mystical. A pristine stream, its water as clear as the daytime sky, was flowing gracefully by our side. The air was filled with a symphony of nature’s sounds and the gentle babbling of the stream harmonised with the whispers of the forest. It was not an ordinary trek, but a quest for nature’s most formidable insect — the Asian giant hornet. This journey was to reveal the traditions among the indigenous communities of Nagaland, for whom giant hornets hold a unique place.

Quest for a formidable insect

After hours of walking, Uncle Azo suddenly asked us to be cautious. I looked around and found nothing extraordinary, so I continued walking. Pretty soon, we could hear the buzzing sound of hornets and the sight we saw when we looked up sent a shiver down my spine. Hovering against the canvas of the night sky were orange-headed giants or Asian giant hornets (Vespa mandarinia), the largest hornets of their kind. Although I had been working on specimens for quite some time, it was the first time I saw a live giant hornet and it was the only insect that made me feel nervous in its territory. The “giant” in their name is totally justified, and if you take a close look, the sight of their imposing mandibles is quite scary. Their stinger, however, may not usually be visible unless the insect is agitated.

Uncle Azo, like many elders of his village, possesses a unique skill of harvesting these insects. It’s a skill passed down generations. He calmly started harvesting these hornets and I watched him in awe and fear, while being careful not to get stung. The moments that followed marked the beginning of my journey into the world of the edible hornets of Northeast India. I was surprised by the extraordinary role hornets play in the lives of the indigenous communities of Nagaland as well as the immense traditional knowledge possessed by these ethnic communities.

The fight or flight response did not play well in my situation because I was there to witness the harvesting of Asian giant hornets. The whole underground nest would be smoked and dug out shortly. I was wondering how Uncle Azo was going to pull this off without any gadgets. But he did, in a matter of minutes, the hornets (well, most of them) were knocked out because of the smoke infused into the hive entrance. We were asked to keep our ears on top of the mud-covered nests, to listen for movement inside the hive. The absence of the sound of buzzing wings suggests that all adults are knocked out. This is when we proceed to dig the hive out and complete the harvest process. We were carefully documenting everything and observing the aggression of the hornets that had escaped. It was quite natural for them to charge at us, and I am sure, the sight of me gliding around to escape the attack would be a story for Uncle Azo’s grandkids the next day!

The giants

Asian giant hornets are the largest of all social wasps, with individuals reaching up to two inches in size (Genus: Vespa; Family: Vespidae; Order: Hymenoptera). They live in large colonies founded by a queen (the foundress). A typical colony consists of a single queen and a large number of sterile workers and drones. Division of labour exists among the workers, with different task forces for maintaining the colony, foraging, colony defence etc. There are 23 species of hornets known so far, of which 15 are found in India. They are voracious predators and feed on a variety of insects and occasionally on smaller animals like rodents. Since they are predators, they pose a threat to bee populations and are usually regarded as harmful insects by people. But as predators, they also play an important role in maintaining the population of a lot of other insects and thus in maintaining ecological balance. 

An ethnic delicacy

The utilisation of hornets transcends mere sustenance in Nagaland; it’s a testament to the connection between the indigenous communities and their community forests. Edible insects, especially hornets, are consumed by local people. As an ethnic delicacy, these insects are highly esteemed. Hornets are captured towards the end of their annual cycle (late September to late November), expertly harvested by those who possess related traditional knowledge. Very few people in a village are skilled this way. The harvested hornets are transformed into a variety of delectable dishes, from smoked and boiled recipes to stir-fried creations. For Naga communities, hornets are a source of pride and sustenance, often served during feasts and on special occasions. They are strong symbols of endurance, resourcefulness, and deep respect for nature among these communities. These hornets and their use represent tradition and wisdom passed down through generations and the cultural uniqueness of this region.

Giant hornets find their place not only on dinner tables but also in traditional folk medicine. Their potent venom, used by traditional healers in Naga communities, is believed to possess remarkable therapeutic properties. It is used to treat an array of ailments, from joint pain to toothaches.

Recently, there has been a growing fear and hatred of giant hornets globally, to the point that they have been called “murder hornets”. The spotting of these hornets in the US and Europe recently has added to this label. Although the current threat of range expansion of Asian giant hornets outside their native areas is concerning, labelling an insect of this cultural significance a “murder weapon” is relatively unfair. The need of the hour is for comprehensive solutions to manage the Asian giant hornet populations outside their native areas while conserving the insects within their native range.