Asian Honeybees’ Unique Defense Mechanism

Asian honeybees are known for their extraordinary tactics in defending their hives against predators. From creating mesmerizing shimmering waves to using defensive balls to roast intruders alive, these bees have now added a new weapon to their arsenal: their wings.

Researchers in Japan recently discovered that Asian honeybee guards utilize their wings to fend off pesky ants trying to infiltrate the hive. In a fascinating slow-motion video captured and published in the journal Ecology, the guard bees are seen skillfully wing-smacking the ants, sending them tumbling through the air before crashing to the ground.

This wing-slapping technique serves as a low-energy yet effective way for the honeybees to deter ants from looting the hive’s food reserves and consuming the protein-rich eggs. While Japanese ants typically do not harm honeybees, they can still pose a threat by depleting the nest’s resources.

To understand the mechanics of this defense strategy, a team of researchers from Japan’s National Institute for Environmental Studies observed guard bees as they confronted various ant species invading their hive. The slow-motion footage revealed that the wing-slaps successfully propelled smaller ant species away in nearly half of the encounters.

When the wing slap does not make contact, the ants may attempt to bite the guard bee, but often they simply freeze in response. According to Kiyohito Morii, a behavioral ecologist involved in the study, the speed of the wing-slap may be too rapid for the ants to react in time. Yoshiko Sakamoto, another researcher on the project, emphasized the efficiency of this defense mechanism in swiftly repelling potential threats.