Asian giant hornet attacks linked to weather, leave 41 dead in China
File photo courtesy: Flickr
theweathernetwork.com
Wednesday, October 2, 2013, 4:22 PM -
Warmer temperatures are being blamed on aggressive giant hornet attacks in central China.
At least 41 people have died and more than 1,000 have been injured in what authorities are calling a "wave" of assaults.
The insects can inflict toxic stings known to cause anaphylactic shock and renal failure. They are capable of chasing a victim hundreds of metres and inflicting up to 200 stings in a single attack.
Giant hornet attacks are common in the region between May and November, but this year has been particularly problematic.
It's been suggested that recent warm weather has caused a population boom for the hornets, while nearby human activity could be disturbing nests and sparking aggressive behaviour.
Experts say the problem is likely to persist until temperatures start to drop.
