Science, Space and Technology News 2023
Asian hornets. New research from the University of Exeter has revealed the buff-tailed bumblebee’s unique defensive strategy against Asian hornets: they drop to the ground when attacked, often repelling the hornet. Credit: Sandra Rojas-Nossa
Hornet and bumblebee. Despite bumblebee’s effective defense in fighting Asian hornets, bumblebee colonies in hornet-dense regions show stunted growth, implying other negative impacts. Asian hornets, already prevalent in parts of Europe and Asia, have made their recent appearance in the US, causing concerns for pollinators and prompting control efforts.
Hornet in hand. While hornets regularly prey on insects, including honey bees, their attempts on bumblebees have been largely unsuccessful. This might be due to the bumblebees’ defensive adaptation, possibly an evolutionary coincidence.
In the study, commercially reared bumblebee colonies were placed at 12 locations across the province of Pontevedra, Spain, with varying local Asian hornet densities. “Hornets also consume nectar from flowers, meaning they compete directly with bees for food and harass them at flower patches via constant attacks.”Commenting on the hornets’ low success rate during attacks, O’Shea-Wheller said: “I have seen hornets attack bumblebees of all sizes, including some that are larger than them.
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