Potter wasps are solitary wasps, even though they are considered to be in the same family as social wasps. This means they live and hunt alone, only coming together with other potter wasps to mate. These long, thin wasps get their name from the nests they build out of mud. Each individual cell of the nest resembles old, earthen pots. Within these cells, potter wasps seal paralyzed caterpillars along with a few eggs. The larvae that emerges devours the caterpillar, metamorphoses into an adult and emerges from the nest to start the cycle all over again. A number of potter wasp species can be found in Asia: Delta petiuluta in East Asia and South China, Rhynchium quinquecinctum in South China, and Phimenes flavopictus in Hong Kong and parts of Southeast Asia.
Paper wasps are some of the most widely-distributed and varied types of wasps, with over 700 species found worldwide. Those found in Asia are Polistes chinesis. Paper wasps are social and live in small colonies, working together to build nests, hunt and mate. Paper wasps get their name from the nests they make, which are made from a sort of paper. These wasps find nearby wood, scrape it with their mandibles and chew the wood until it mixes enough with their saliva to form a sticky paste. This paste is then spread over the nest structure and left to dry. When it does, a rough paper is formed. These wasps grow to ¾ of an inch to one inch in length and have black and yellow markings.
The Asian giant hornet is the world's largest species of hornet (these are a type of wasp). They are native to temperate and tropical East Asia and can grow up to 1.8 inches in length (queens can grow up to 2.2 inches) with a wingspan of up to three inches. They prey on other large insects, such as honeybees, other wasp species and praying mantises. While they can't digest solid protein, they bring other insects to their larvae, chew them up and feed them to those larvae, who in turn produce a liquid that be consumed by adult hornet, giving them the energy they need to go out and continue hunting. These wasps pose a great danger to humans, as their sting delivers a toxin that could cause death if medical attention is not sought.