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Description
Fire Hornets get their name not from their vibrant colouration but from the searing pain that their stingers deliver. Aside from agonizing, burning pain, their toxin affects their victim's nervous system and is at the same time a powerful haematotoxin, liquifying soft tissues in a matter of minutes or, in the case of larger animals, maybe a couple of hours. These fierce killing machines are the only insectoid creature of Dragoterras known to kill not only for food but out of pure aggression. Reaching a body length of about a meter, not counting the menacing stinger, these flying creatures are a force to be reckoned with, especially so since they tend not to travel alone.
They form giant storms during the mating period and triennial migrations, sometimes reaching sufficient numbers to be mistaken for tornadoes by distant witnesses. Close encounters are rare to be accounted for.
Though perfectly equipped to survive on their own, these Hornets display pseudo-eusocial behaviour; it is not known why roughly a third of workers will go rogue and leave the hive, but those who remain loyal to their queen will kill the rogues on sight. Newest research suggests the Hornets-gone-rogue might have caught a fungal infection of some sort and thus behave abnormally, but more research is needed to draw any conclusions. Whatever the cause, the remaining workers are more than capable to feed the colony as they are no picky eaters and will bring any prey they can carry back to the nest.
They sport excellent vision and olfaction and are surprisingly maneuverable in spite of their bulk. When a victim is spotted, the predator grabs it with its graspihg front legs and mandibles in order to immobilize it, then injects it with its cocktail of toxins which is said to have customizable ratios of haematotoxic and neurotoxic components depending on the size and type of prey. Prey that is to be eaten is inoculated with more haematotoxin as to quicken the lysis of tissues that can then be sucked out. The prey items selected to feed Fire Hornet larvae are typically only paralyzed with neurotoxins and then carried off either whole or in pieces between the worker's grasping appendages and specialized thorn-like spurs on its other legs that ensure good grip for long flights.

*** You are welcome though not compelled to cite me as the author in case you share my work. ***
The Fire Hornet is a species that I have made up. I thank you for not claiming or using it as your own. You are welcome to draw inspiration or use this species as part of your work, but please do not claim it is your original concept.

Description
Fire Hornets get their name not from their vibrant colouration but from the searing pain that their stingers deliver. Aside from agonizing, burning pain, their toxin affects their victim's nervous system and is at the same time a powerful haematotoxin, liquifying soft tissues in a matter of minutes or, in the case of larger animals, maybe a couple of hours. These fierce killing machines are the only insectoid creature of Dragoterras known to kill not only for food but out of pure aggression. Reaching a body length of about a meter, not counting the menacing stinger, these flying creatures are a force to be reckoned with, especially so since they tend not to travel alone.
They form giant storms during the mating period and triennial migrations, sometimes reaching sufficient numbers to be mistaken for tornadoes by distant witnesses. Close encounters are rare to be accounted for.
Though perfectly equipped to survive on their own, these Hornets display pseudo-eusocial behaviour; it is not known why roughly a third of workers will go rogue and leave the hive, but those who remain loyal to their queen will kill the rogues on sight. Newest research suggests the Hornets-gone-rogue might have caught a fungal infection of some sort and thus behave abnormally, but more research is needed to draw any conclusions. Whatever the cause, the remaining workers are more than capable to feed the colony as they are no picky eaters and will bring any prey they can carry back to the nest.
They sport excellent vision and olfaction and are surprisingly maneuverable in spite of their bulk. When a victim is spotted, the predator grabs it with its graspihg front legs and mandibles in order to immobilize it, then injects it with its cocktail of toxins which is said to have customizable ratios of haematotoxic and neurotoxic components depending on the size and type of prey. Prey that is to be eaten is inoculated with more haematotoxin as to quicken the lysis of tissues that can then be sucked out. The prey items selected to feed Fire Hornet larvae are typically only paralyzed with neurotoxins and then carried off either whole or in pieces between the worker's grasping appendages and specialized thorn-like spurs on its other legs that ensure good grip for long flights.

*** You are welcome though not compelled to cite me as the author in case you share my work. ***
The Fire Hornet is a species that I have made up. I thank you for not claiming or using it as your own. You are welcome to draw inspiration or use this species as part of your work, but please do not claim it is your original concept.