The venom contains a neurotoxin called mandaratoxin, a single-chain polypeptide with a molecular weight around 20 kDa. While a single wasp cannot inject a lethal dose, multiple stings can be lethal even to people who are not allergic if the dose is sufficient; but allergy to the venom greatly increases the risk of death. Tests involving mice found that the venom falls short of being the most lethal of all wasp venom, having an of 4.0mg/kg. (In comparison, the deadliest wasp venom (at least to laboratory mice) by weight belongs to "V. luctuosa" at 1.6mg/kg.) The potency of the "V. mandarinia" sting is due, rather, to the relatively large amount of venom injected.