Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => REPRINT ARTICLE ARCHIVES => Topic started by: Understudy on November 12, 2007, 09:17:44 pm

Title: Bees: lets find another way to kill hornets
Post by: Understudy on November 12, 2007, 09:17:44 pm
It's just a small blurb in the article, but it's a nice one.

Smithsonian Magazine (http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/wildthings-200711.html)

Sincerely,
Brendhan
Title: Re: Bees: lets find another way to kill hornets
Post by: Cindi on November 19, 2007, 10:56:41 am
Brendhan cool.  The Cyprian bees "ball" the hornet basically, from what I read.

The same thing happens in the honeybees when they "ball" their queen.  They essentially suffocate her too, that is their way of killing her, suffocation, what a nasty death.  Beautiful day, great day, love our life.  Cindi
Title: Re: Bees: lets find another way to kill hornets
Post by: ooptec on November 20, 2007, 11:35:59 am
Hey,

In the hornets case I don't believe they suffocate it, but the ball of bees temp. at core kills the hornet as honeybees can take a much higher temp.

That's what I learned anyways

cheers

p
Title: Re: Bees: lets find another way to kill hornets
Post by: Understudy on November 20, 2007, 03:48:41 pm
Hey,

In the hornets case I don't believe they suffocate it, but the ball of bees temp. at core kills the hornet as honeybees can take a much higher temp.

That's what I learned anyways

cheers

p

From the article:
To kill a hornet, Asian honeybees will mob it and generate so much heat that the hornet dies. But Cyprian honeybees fight with a type of hornet that is adapted to hot climates and can withstand such "thermo-balling." According to researchers in France and Greece, the Cyprian bees swarm the hornet's abdomen and block the breathing holes, called spiracles. Cause of the hornet's death? Suffocation. The scientists named the attack "asphyxia-balling."

And today you learned something new.

Sincerely,
Brendhan
Title: Re: Bees: lets find another way to kill hornets
Post by: ooptec on November 20, 2007, 04:24:09 pm
Cool