Hordes of giant killer hornets are terrorizing China.

Dozens of people have now died this year, and hundreds more people have been seriously hurt after being stung by swarms of giant hornets in China.

The death toll due to the killer hornets has reached 28.

Chinese officials are warning people that stings from the killer hornets may lead to anaphylactic shock and renal failure.

The hornets were a problem in past years but seem to have increased this year. The hornets are more aggressive than in years past.

The rise in attacks has been blamed on a warmer climate, habitat destruction due to people entering the woods that the hornets live in, and the hornets' sensitivity to toxins in food and cosmetics.

Police say that a total of 36 people died in the city and 715 were injured by the hornets between 2002 and 2005. This year alone, however, the death toll is already at 28.

Accordign to the South China Post, in a report dated Sept. 28, 2013, "a spate of hornet attacks in southern Shaanxi province has resulted in 28 deaths and hundreds of injuries. ... Most of those affected are in remote rural areas of the cities of Ankang, Hanzhong and Shangluo."

The Asian giant hornet is the world's largest hornet. It can grow to more than two inches in length and has a wingspan of about three inches. The stings of the killer hornets can be about a quarter inch long and are venomous. It is also known as a "yak-killer hornet" or "Vespa mandarinia".

Because of the toxicitiy of their stings, even non-allergic people can die from the killer hornet sting.

The species of killer hornets are highly aggressive and predatory. They are found throughout China, Russia, Korea, Taiwan, Indochina, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, and Japan.

For the most part, their prey is insects, such as bees, mantises, and other hornet species. However, attacks on humans seem to be increasing of late.

They are intensely predatory and aggressive. While their prey usually includes medium- to large-sized insects, such as bees, other hornet species, and mantises, their attacks on humans have been increasing during the past three months.

Hornets were previously only known to attack if disturbed, however, rent reports show the hornets being more aggressive.

Recent reports tell of hornets that pursued people for more than 650 feet and stung one person more than 200 times.

Chinese officials urge people to urge attention if they have more than 10 stings, and those with more than 30 need immediate emergency treatment, officials said. When the weather changes in November, activity is expected to lessen.

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