I was stung by a giant hornet - this is what it felt like

October 2024 ยท 3 minute read

A wildlife enthusiast has taken tested how severe the sting of a 'tiger' hornet really is by letting one prick him.

Jack Schonhoff invited the 'incredibly painful' ordeal from the vespa tropica, also known as the greater banded hornet, in April 2019, trapping the insect on his arm.

The severity of the sting he experienced seemingly justifies Guernsey firefighters' cautious removal of an Asian giant hornets nest on September 10.

Schonhoff, who goes by Jack's World of Wildlife on YouTube, said: 'Wow! Look at that, that is immediate pain. It's even bit into my arm - those are the mandible [jaw] marks.

'My arm's shaking. So, yeah, that's terrible. This is by far the worst sting I've ever had.'

Jack Schonhoff (pictured) forced a greater banded hornet - vespa tropica - to sting him

Jack Schonhoff (pictured) forced a greater banded hornet - vespa tropica - to sting him

He described it as 'by far the worst sting I've ever had' causing his entire arm to swell up

He described it as 'by far the worst sting I've ever had' causing his entire arm to swell up

The content creator predicted an 'incredibly painful' sting before he thrusted it into his arm between a pair of tweezers.

He explained: 'Vespa are renowned for their potent stings, some people even claim that vespa mandarinia, the Asian giant hornet, can kill you with just three stings.'

Although Schonhoff was using a vespa tropica - cousin of the mandarinia - this insect still boasted a quarter-inch long sting, which the YouTuber soon learnt could do serious damage.

He said: 'Where the stinger went in, you can see my arm is already getting super red.

'It's ferry electric, my hand is buzzy, but the initial sting is very hot, very wide. I'd say probably half an inch diameter of just searing heat.

'I'm really bleeding. Wow, I'm impressed because I could not stop myself from screaming.'

Over the following minutes most of the daredevil's forearm swelled up in a sore pink that was warm to touch, which expanded to most of his entire arm before the end of the day.

'This is the most localised welting I've ever experienced with a sting,' he added.

The greater banded hornet (pictured) is native to southern Asia, but is an invasive species and has infiltrated mainland Australia

The greater banded hornet (pictured) is native to southern Asia, but is an invasive species and has infiltrated mainland Australia

'But all in all it's still just a wasp, I'm not dead, I didn't faint, I didn't pass out, I'm ok.

'My arm hurts but that's what stings do I don't know what else is supposed to happen.'

The greater banded hornet is native to southern Asia, but is an invasive species and has infiltrated mainland Australia.

Similarly, the Asian giant hornet has invaded Europe - seen in the UK since 2016 after coming via the Channel Islands following their accidental introduction to France in 2004.

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