Bee Number 7

The Asian Hornet: Shifting the balance of power

V. velutina relies on its aerial agility to catch bees, ambushing them in flight, and it is vulnerable to attack when its ability to manoeuvre is limited. Furthermore, its full agility is only achieved when it is fully warmed up.

Although the honey bee becomes an increasingly important source of food for V. velutina from August onwards, V. velutina is wary of bees in any number and is reluctant to take on a strong colony’s guard force, preferring to keep out of range, hawking just in front of the hive.

The bees put out a guard force ready to attack the hornet and, at least in the initial stages of predation, the bees have been observed to change their flying pattern, flying earlier in the day and avoiding the period after midday when the hornet is at its most effective when predating bees.