Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia) larvae and pupa in specimen tubes. When fully grown Asian giant hornets are the world's largest hornet, found in temperate and tropical Eastern Asia. They can reach a body length of around 5 centimetres and a wingspan of nearly 8 centimetres. In 2019, Asian giant hornets were found in British Columbia, Canada, and Washington State, USA. It is feared that if they become established in North America they could decimate local bee populations, which, unlike Asian bees, have no defences against the hornets. Asian giant hornet are sometimes called murder hornets as their stings can be deadly to humans. Photographed in Washington D.C. on the 16th of February 2021.