Monomad: Greater Banded Hornet

As I noticed this wasp gnawing on a dry twig, I decided to take a closer shot, even though I was a little hesitant to do so since, as far as I know, the greater banded hornet (Vespa tropica) is known to be aggressive.

If you get stung by this wasp, your skin will swell for days, and it will feel like it's burning. But I was willing to take any chances; I believed it wouldn't hurt me. It wasn't as aggressive as the same wasps I often encounter. It was as if it let me shoot as much as I wanted. As you can see, it was so photogenic.