Oriental hornet

Oriental hornet (Vespa orientalis)

The Oriental hornet (Vespa orientalis ) is a hornet species, which is widespread in the Middle East and southern Europe. Already in southern Italy it is found.

Features

Vespa orientalis stands as the only Hornissenart dry desert climate. Contributes to the ability of the abdomen with a heat pump, which can serve to heat generation as well as for cooling of the insect.

As early as 1991, researchers discovered at the University of Tel -Aviv photoelectric properties in the cuticle and in the cocoon of larvae.

Way of life

They very often nests in the ground or colonized often also cavities in masonry.

The animal is often in the summer of prey occurring in these regions bee -eater, a swallow -like bird, which establishes large colonies on steep walls. In summer, the Vespa orientalis counts in some regions, the main food source for the bee-eater. Oriental hornets are caught in the branches of even large praying mantises, which in turn are quite well protected by their armor before the Hornets sting.

She's with beekeepers unpopular because they also captured honey bees, and normally at the apiary or bee car. The Oriental hornet thus applicable in their area of ​​distribution as one of the worst beekeeping pests because they not only captures bees from the hive, but it penetrates even in a weakened peoples and robbing their honey.

Otherwise, the life of this type is very similar to the related hornet (Vespa crabro ), which is mainly native to Central Europe.