The Asian Giant Hornet, or the “murder hornet,” is the largest hornet species on Earth. They are dark brown velvet with a yellow-orange head and are native to East Asia, Subtropical Asia, and parts of the Russian Far East. 

Likewise, they live in low mountains and forests and build their nests in rotted tree roots or human-made structures. These hornets are most active between April and November.

Moreover, they are strategic predators; they hunt colonies of bumble bees and wasps. These types of hornets also prey on nuisance species such as the carpenter bee.

During September and October, they exhibit "hawking," where they hover outside beehives, waiting to swoop down on their prey. Despite their fearsome reputation, they only attack when they feel a threat to their nest.

The Oriental Hornet is a social insect in Southwest Asia, Northeast Africa, and some parts of Southern Europe. It has a brown body with thick yellow bands on its abdomen and yellow patches on its face.

Despite their intimidating appearance and reputation for stinging, these hornets are generally harmless and only attack when threatened. They are active during the day, building their nests underground or taking over abandoned burrows. They help control pest populations.

Interestingly, this type of hornet can harvest solar energy to create electricity inside its exoskeleton2.

The queen is responsible for laying eggs, while the female workers handle the rest of the tasks, such as nest building, food gathering, and protection. Male drones exist solely to win the queen's favor.

The Bald-faced Hornet, also called a White-faced Hornet, is a yellowjacket species in North America. It has a black body with white markings on its face, thorax, and abdomen. 

The queens of this species are slightly larger than their counterparts; the workers, drones, and queens all have clear roles in the colony. 

Bald-faced Hornets live in large carton nests made from chewed-up wood pulp and saliva. These nests are often in trees, shrubs, or buildings. 

These hornets are omnivores, eating insects, caterpillars, spiders, nectar, and fruit juice. Unlike many insects, they are active during the day.

The Greater Banded Hornet lives in South and Southeast Asia. It features distinctive yellow and black bands and can grow to an inch. 

Likewise, they make their homes in complex, large nests within the hollows of trees or underground cavities, which can house several thousand colonies. 

The hornets consume other wasps, beetles, caterpillars, nectar, and fruit. They are also essential pollinators within their ecosystems.

Notably, the queen is the sole egg-layer at the heart of each colony, surrounded by her daughters who serve as workers. 

The workers use hunting methods such as "hawk predation," capturing and killing other flying insects in mid-air. Meanwhile, they also participate in "aerial jousting" to determine dominance.

The Lesser Banded Hornet lives in South and Southeast Asia. It measures between 1 and 1.4 inches in length and lives in colonies ranging from a few hundred to a thousand members. 

The hornet feeds mainly on insects such as flies, beetles, and caterpillars. However, it also occasionally consumes nectar and sweet sap, making it a gentle pollinator. 

Still, these fiercely territorial hornets will not hesitate to protect their homes. Its stings can be painful, so one must exercise caution around them. There are already many fatality reports of their stings leading to complications like myocardial infarction and multiple organ failure1.

The hornets typically construct their nests in trees, shrubs, or under the eaves of buildings. These nests are crafted from chewed-up wood pulp and have a papery feel. 

When spring arrives, one fertilized queen establishes the colony, laying eggs and nurturing the first batch of larvae.

Yellow-legged Hornets are smaller than their European counterparts, with worker hornets ranging from 0.8 to 1.2 inches and queens stretching up to 1.4 inches. They are native to Southeast Asia but have spread to Europe by hitching rides with humans. 

These hornets have dark, velvety bodies with yellow stripes and yellow legs. They live in bustling colonies of thousands of members, often found in trees, shrubs, artificial structures, and even ground burrows. Their non-barbed stingers can sting repeatedly and cause significant pain.

They have a preference for honey bees, threatening local honeybee populations. Despite their adverse effects on honey bee populations, Yellow-legged Hornets regulate the populations of other insects in their native ecosystems.

The Common Yellow Hornet, also called the Sandhills Hornet or the Aerial Yellowjacket, is a native species found across North America. It sports a black body with thin yellow bands and yellow legs.

This type of yellowjacket eats grasshoppers, spiders, flies, and ladybugs. Since they nest above trees, they are mostly targeted by birds and other wasps. However, they can spray venoms out of their stings to defend themselves.

Reticulated beetles sport a rectangular form and somewhat elongated shape, typically measuring 1 to 1.5 inches. 

Their bodies have hardened plates, which display an intricate pattern of ridges and pits, giving them a cross-hatched appearance - a feature for which they are named. 

Cupedidae is a relatively small family with around 30 known species. These beetles generally live under the loose bark of dead trees or logs in forested areas.

Skiff Beetles are tiny residents of freshwater habitats, often nestled amidst algae or stones. Distinctively, they span a mere length of 0.04 to 0.08 inches, with less than 30 described species globally. 

Their compact bodies boast a streamlined shape and gleaming texture, a design tailor-made for a life spent skimming beneath the water's surface.

This type of beetle employs a natural form of scuba gear, carrying a reservoir of air beneath their wing cases to stay submerged and out of sight.

Ground beetles are diverse insects, with over 40,000 species found worldwide, including in North America. These creatures have dark-colored bodies that can appear metallic in certain lighting conditions. 

Moreover, they are often difficult to spot during the day as they seek shelter under rocks, logs, and leaf litter. When night comes, they become more active. 

Ground beetles and their larvae feed on smaller invertebrates, like slugs, snails, and caterpillars, which helps keep pests in check.

Apart from their role as predators, ground beetles have unique defense mechanisms to protect themselves from danger3. 

Some species emit a foul odor to deter predators, while others, like the Bombardier Beetle, spray a hot, toxic chemical from their bodies for self-defense. However, these defense mechanisms do not pose any threat to humans.