Bee Ball: Honeybees' Defense Against Wasp Predators

Japanese honeybees have evolved in a defensive technique that is different than their European cousins.
The hives all have guards at their entrances, but the Japanese honey bees go a evolutionary step forward. Their stingers are not long enough to puncture the exo-skeleton of the Wasp, so they swarm around it, and beat their wing so fast that it increases the heat in the center, cooking the wasp.

Mmmm, Glazed Wasp.

Another first for Mother Nature.
More can bee found here: main.aol.com...

reply to post by Violater1


And people say insects are stupid... Haha, who is stupid now? We can't even keep our citizens from starving, yet these insects can work together to destroy a threat they can't face alone

Perfect analogy for ATS
Good find

reply to post by Violater1

Check it out in action yo!

Just crazy man, but effective for sure!!

reply to post by speculativeoptimist


That is impressive!

At 2:19, it almost looks like there's a tear in the hornets eye... bless him...

Nature sure is cold... or do I mean hot....

OP, S&F.

Excellent method!

At first i thought "oh thats just a swarm" nothing unusual there, they are bees right!

But no, heating the hornet up to the point it dies, is one smart way to deal with the problem.

Ingenious insects i salute you one again.

I see they have their own...plan b?

Bees are so cool.

Seems every year or so we figure out some other amazing thing about them.

I love bees too I have been at one with them since I saved a bumble bee from an evil workmate who wanted to pull it's legs off so I took it, threatened the guy with a fight and took it outside to it's freedom, once free the little fella flew round my head a few times to say "thanks" and flew away.
Since then I have joined the bees in the never ending war against the evil wasp empire and they always seem to come and say "hello" when I see them (or they see me)

Go Bees'!!!


Cool vid OP xxx

Originally posted by Biigs
Excellent method!

At first i thought "oh thats just a swarm" nothing unusual there, they are bees right!

But no, heating the hornet up to the point it dies, is one smart way to deal with the problem.

Ingenious insects i salute you one again.

A bee convection oven

Even in nature it proves. Strength in numbers
The end part is funny...

!!!!!!!!

reply to post by Violater1


I commend you for bringing this to ATS attention, but this has been known for many many many years. If anyone watches Discovery, they would have seen it. Great evolutionary method to dealing with the predator, but a Non-thread in my eyes, sorry.

Originally posted by pizzawings
!!!!!!!!

Thanks.

Originally posted by Fisherr
Even in nature it proves. Strength in numbers

The end part is funny...

Indeed, honey glazed wasp.