I saw a documentary on some channel (animal planet or discovery or something) about bugs. These hornets were on there. They went to look at them, wearing beekeeper suits. These fucking things looked vicious, and the soft-spoken Japanese guide said he'd been stung once. He said something like 'It was the worst pain I've ever felt; like a red-hot nail being driven into my skin.'

Well what do you know. From the article:
“It is profoundly shocking, like a red-hot 15cm nail rammed into your body. I have never grown accustomed to the pain.”