Asian giant hornets have killed at least 19 people in China over the last three months

MASSIVE killer hoets are preying upon the innocent people of China, and have claimed at least 19 lives over the last three months.

Hoets are a type of wasp, and can be distinguished from your ordinary, non-murderous bee by a lack of hair, a longer body and a really bad attitude. Importantly, hoets don't lose their stingers when they attack, so they can sting you as many times as they like.

The hoets on a killing spree in China are Asian giant hoets, which grow to an average of 5.6cm in length. The queens are even bigger, as you can see from this revolting photo if you're brave or crazy enough to follow the link.

The hoets' venom contains a neurotoxin powerful enough to dissolve human tissue. Sadly, Chen Changlin knows all about that. While he survived a recent hoet attack in China's Shaanxi province, a woman and child weren't so lucky.

\"I ran and shouted for help, but the hoets chased me about 200m, and stung me for more than three minutes,\" Chen told China Youth Daily.

\"The more you run, the more they want to chase you,\" another hoet victim said. When this man was admitted to hospital, his urine was the colour of soy sauce, CNN reports.

Two Asian giant hoets kissing or plotting mass murder or something. Photo: KENPEI

China's wasp season runs from May to November. The situation is so serious that one mayor in Shaanxi province has announced plans to establish a 24-hour emergency response team to combat the hoets.

We wish them luck.