The murder hornet, also known by the less fun names Asian giant hornet, northern giant hornet, and Japanese giant hornet, is the largest hornet in the world. It has a stinger that is a quarter of an inch long and venom that dissolves human flesh. The stings are not usually fatal for humans, except in cases of stings by multiple hornets or allergic reactions, but the pain is described as excruciating. But the black-spotted pond frog eats them anyway.
In a study published in Ecosphere, Shinji Sugiura, a biologist at Kobe University, placed three species of pond frogs with hornets. The black-spotted pond frog, the largest of the three, was placed with the murder hornet. The frogs actively pursued and ate the hornets, even when repeatedly stung and pierced by the hornets. Although there were a few instances of the hornet being vomited back up, none of the frogs appeared to be injured or harmed.
The study did not address the mechanism by which the frogs are seemingly tolerant and resistant to the painful venom. Sugiura proposes that the hornets may have developed venom specifically targeted at mammals and birds, as they pose the greatest threat to the colony. Since frogs don't attack colonies and only feed opportunistically on individual insects, the hornets' stings and venom may not hurt them.
Nonetheless, Suguira says, "These characteristics suggest that frogs could serve as useful model organisms for investigating the physiological mechanisms underlying the intense pain and lethal effects of hornet stings in vertebrates."
Previously:
• Murder hornet gets renamed Northern giant hornet
• 'Murder hornets' invade America
• This trailer for a Murder Hornets nature documentary feels like it's a true crime show
