Pond Frogs Resistant to Hornet’s Venom, Study Finds; Discovery Could Aid Medical Research (Update 1)

The Yomiuri Shimbun

16:21 JST, December 6, 2025 (updated at 14:40 JST, Dec. 7)

Black-spotted pond frogs can survive the sting of a giant hornet, a research team from Kobe University has confirmed.

Understanding how the frogs, which are commonly found in rice paddies in Japan, withstand the stings could potentially help reduce the severe pain experienced by humans when they are stung by a hornet, according to the team.

In addition to pain, hornet venom can cause tissue destruction, hemolysis and cardiac dysfunction. It can also kill small animals such as mice. Birds and spiders are known predators of the insect, but dead hornets have also been found in the frogs’ stomachs.

The research team led by Kobe University Prof. Shinji Sugiura, an expert in ecology, conducted an experiment in which they put live hornets, including Asian giant hornets, in close proximity to wild pond frogs.

The results showed that 43 of the 45 frogs attacked the hornets, and 37 of them successfully ate them. The frogs were repeatedly stung in the face, throat and inside the mouth, but they neither weakened nor died.

The research team published their findings in an international academic journal. They said there is a possibility that the tongues and throats of the amphibians can withstand stings, and that their bodies may have mechanisms to detoxify the venom and neutralize the pain.

“If we can elucidate the mechanisms behind their venom resistance and pain suppression, it could be useful for researching pain relief and anti-inflammation,” said Sugiura.