Home >> Science & Nature >> Insects & Science

How Do Bees Kill Hornets?

Topping the charts in the enemy list of a honeybee is the giant hornet. This predator has the potential to destroy nearing 40 honeybees in a minute's time span. Giant hornets are known to carry their prey honeybees and their larvae as food for their young ones. Moreover, the exit of the pioneer hornet is marked by the release of a hormone that paves way for its accomplices leading to mass destruction. In order to save their lives from their arch enemy, honeybees use a defense strategy focusing on asphyxiating their predator or killing the hornets by raising their body temperature.

The Killing Strategies
- According to the findings published in "Current Biology" by lead researcher Alexandros Papachristoforou of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, Cyprian honeybees adopt the strategy of asphyxia-balling to throng and slay the Oriental hornet. Previous studies illustrate the inefficiency of the subspecies of the domestic honeybee, the Apis mellifera, in using thermo-balling to kill their predator. These species are unable to elevate the temperature to a consequential level by means of balling. However, the Asian honeybees are successful in killing hornets by surrounding them in a ball, suffocating their prey by the heat generated in the ball. This technique is effective, as the hard exoskeleton of the hornet is resistant to the stings of the honeybee.
The Fundamental Cause of Death
- The fundamental cause of death of hornets via the technique of asphyxia-balling is asphyxiation. Researcher Alexandros Papachristoforou and his team found that during this defense strategy, the honeybees attack the most vital organ for respiration in hornets, which is its abdomen. It is the propelling of the abdominal muscles of hornets that aids the process of inhalation via small openings known as spiracles. By attacking this specific area of the insect, the honeybees cut off the air supply, thereby asphyxiating its rival hornet.
Experiments Conducted For Verifying Cause of Death
- The research conducted by Alexandros Papachristoforou and his team to authenticate the cause of death of hornets as asphyxiation in asphyxia-balling involved the study of the actual process of respiration in hornets and changes occurring during the balling process. Experiments especially designed to emulate the engulfing strategy revealed that the balling pattern tends to decrease the respiration capability of hornets, resulting in death.
Special Killing Technique Employed For Oriental Hornets
- Owing to the climatic conditions prevailing in Cyprus, the Oriental hornets have the potential to survive even in the high temperatures of 111 degrees Fahrenheit created within the thermo-ball. Therefore, in order to slay this heat-resistant hornet species, honeybees of this region attack their predators by gradually choking them to death.

Insects & Science