|
#1
●
06-15-2009, 11:35 AM
|
|
Are Apis dorsata Dangerous? Giant Honey Bee Shimmering Defense
Apis dorsata, the giant honey bee of South and Southeast Asia, builds large single combs in exposed locations beneath branches, cliffs and buildings. When a colony is threatened, hundreds of bees on the surface can flip their abdomens upward in a coordinated wave known as shimmering. The wave crosses the comb in a split second and helps repel predatory hornets. Field research conducted at Chitwan, Nepal, in November 2004 found that the behavior maintained a shelter zone of about 50 centimeters around the colony and could disrupt a wasp's targeting. Large oval combs covered by dense curtains of bees hang beneath tree branches and from exposed trunks. A suited presenter approaches one comb with a probe, while close views show the tightly packed surface bees and the defensive wave moving across the colony. |