HornetAlert is not a medical service and this rating is not medical advice: it is our own editorial judgement of how much caution a species deserves, not a clinical assessment of any sting. If you have been stung and feel unwell, contact a doctor or your local emergency number.
How to recognize it
Almost black body with a blue-purple sheen on the wings, flat comb-like dark nest attached to tree trunks.
Where it lives
Found across Central and South America; builds its nest directly on tree bark.
Behavior toward humans
Not aggressive while foraging, but the colony defends its nest with great determination if disturbed. Keep your distance from a nest.
Where in the world
Documented status by region
- NativeCentral America
- NativeSouth America
Lines run from the native region to regions where the species has since been recorded.
These are indicative regions, not range maps. Each block covers the whole named region, not the exact area where the species occurs — HornetAlert holds region-level status records, not distribution polygons.
Known range
