ISSN:
1420-9071
Keywords:
Heat production by balling
;
defensive behavior
;
Apis cerana japonica
;
the Japanese honeybee
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Summary As an effective counterattack strategy against predacious hornets, especiallyVespa simillima xanthoptera, workers ofApis cerana japonica showed a distinct balling reaction, usually involving 180–300 bees. This produced heat for as long as 20 min, giving rise to temperatures inside the ball higher than 46°C, which is lethal to the hornet but not to the bees.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01952231
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