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Relevant Oatmeal comic: https://theoatmeal.com/comics/bees_vs_hornets https://theoatmeal.com/comics/bees_vs_hornets
by HerrMonnezza 6y ago
Relevant Oatmeal comic: https://theoatmeal.com/comics/bees_vs_hornets https://theoatmeal.com/comics/bees_vs_hornets
- bgentry 6y agoI think that comic understates the amazingness of the adaptation. The honeybees don’t just swarm the hornets, they will actually retreat into the hive and allow the hornets to enter, then trap them inside while they roast them to death. All of this works because the honeybees can vibrate themselves to a temperature just warmer than the hornets can tolerate, which is also just less than the bees can tolerate. Just one or two degrees celsius of tolerance is the difference. Hopefully no Asian giant hornets ever evolve a slightly higher temperature tolerance!