Insects are known to give a lot of people the heebie-jeebies. Yet, there’s a specific type of hornet now in the United States that is downright terrifying.
You might have read about the Asian giant hornet in the news – or more scarily called “murder hornets,” which have been spotted in Washington state. Not only are they “the world’s largest hornet” and a danger to honey bees, but they also deliver a painful sting that can be fatal to some.
One man made it his mission to discover just how painful the sting really is.
Now that there have been several sightings in the state of Washington, scientists have grown concerned.
Todd Murray, a Washington State University extension entomologist and invasive species specialist, told their publication:
“It’s a shockingly large hornet. It’s a health hazard, and more importantly, a significant predator of honey bees.”
Besides the sting of a “murder hornet” being potentially deadly – wildlife expert, Coyote Peterson, knows for a fact that it causes excruciating pain.
Peterson shares his adventurous experiences through his Brave Wilderness YouTube channel. He’s known for finding out first-hand just what it feels like to be stung by some of the world’s most frightening creatures, and is nicknamed the “King of Sting.”
Cameras were filming when he caught a giant hornet, and also when he placed it on his arm to receive a sting.
In the footage, Peterson immediately screams out from the “searing pain.” He wails in agony and can’t stay still while they observe the results of the sting.
The pain tipped the scales.
Peterson’s arm swells up unbelievably, and he later reveals how much worse the pain was than some previous stings he’s endured. In the past, the adventurer has experienced the wrath of creatures like the bullet ant and the tarantula hawk.
During the Breaking Trail episode, he also explains:
“When the stinger went into my arm, I had this like wave. Like a wave came over me and I got super dizzy, almost didn’t feel what was happening, and then the pain just was like immediate, immediately searing.”
Inside Edition interviewed Coyote Peterson to learn more about what it was like to be on the other end of the hornet’s sting.
He told them:
“It will put you in momentous amounts of pain for close to six hours.”
Peterson also shared:
“My arm kinda ballooned up to twice its normal size so it was intense. Now, a single sting is not likely to kill a human unless you have an allergic reaction to the venom – but 30 or 40 stings could kill you.”
Inside Edition interviewed an insect expert as well, who also knows what it feels like to be stung by the “murder hornet.” In the video below, he shows that there’s a huge difference between its size and the honey bee.
Not all of us are fans of insects, but it’s really no wonder why these hornets are giving people the sweats.
Press play below to see Inside Edition’s coverage, which includes footage of Peterson’s painful sting!
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