Yellowjacket, Giant

The massive winged insect has a pattern of black and yellow markings on its body and a wicked-looking stinger at the tip of its thorax.

Yellowjacket, Giant (CR 4)

Large Vermin
Alignment: Neutral
Initiative: +1
Senses: Darkvision 60 feet; Perception +9

Speed: 20 feet, Fly 60 feet (good)
Space: 10 feet

Defense

Armor Class: 14, touch 10, flat-footed 13 (+1 Dex, +4 natural, -1 size)
Hit Points: 39 (6d8+12)
Saving Throws: Fort +7, Ref +3, Will +3
Immunity: mind-affecting effects, vermin traits

Offense

Melee: bite +7 (1d3+4) or sting +7 (1d4+4 plus poison)
Reach: 5 feet

Statistics

Str	Dex	Con	Int	Wis	Cha
18 (+4)	12 (+1)	14 (+2)	-	13 (+1)	11 (+0)

Base Attack Bonus: +4
CMB +9
CMD 20 (28 vs. Trip)

Feats:

Skills: Fly +3, Perception +9, Survival +5

• Racial Modifiers: +8 Perception, +4 Survival

Languages:

Special Qualities: pheromone

Special Abilities

Pheromone (Ex)

The first time a creature successfully hits a giant yellowjacket it releases a fear pheromone that heightens the aggressiveness of all other giant yellowjackets within 50 feet. All affected giant yellowjackets receive a +1 morale bonus to attack rolls for the remainder of the encounter and fight without penalty even while disabled or dying.

Poison (Ex)

Sting-injury; save Fort DC 15; frequency 1/round for 4 rounds; effect 1d4 Dex damage; cure 1 save. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Ecology

Environment: Temperate or Warm Land
Organization: solitary, swarm (2-5), or nest (11-20)
Treasure: none


Giant yellowjackets can be distinguished from giant hornets by the yellow markings on their thorax and abdomen. Giant yellowjackets spend their days suckling nectar from flowers and fruit juices from plants. When hunting for food to feed the young, they seek out sources of carrion or animal tissue. Living prey is attacked and stung to death and then cut into pieces by the giant yellowjacket's sharp mandibles and carried piece by piece back to the nest.

Giant yellowjackets generally build their nests high above ground in rocky outcroppings or forested areas. Some giant yellowjackets prefer to build their nests underground, constructing them in abandoned giant snake holes. Giant yellowjackets are 8 feet long with alternating bands of black and yellow on their thorax and abdomen. Workers generally have thicker black bands than the queen or soldiers.

The yellowjacket's stinger is slightly curved and barbed and their mandibles are well-formed and developed, allowing them to chew their food. Giant yellowjackets attack by biting their foes. Though it has a poisonous stinger, it usually conducts combat with its bite attack, unless threatened by or confronting a particularly powerful opponent.

In such cases, the giant yellowjacket brings its stinger to bear and repeatedly stings its foes until they are dead. If attacked, a giant yellowjacket releases a pheromone that agitates all others of its kind, making them deadlier and more aggressive.

Copyright Notice Author Scott Greene.