Life History and Behavior
Behavior
Anti-predator defense
Japanese honeybees are preyed on by giant hornets (Vespa mandarinia japonica). However, the bees respond by forming a swarm around the body of an invading hornet. A combination of high temperature and high carbon dioxide levels (which lower the hornet's tolerance to high temperature) can kill the hornet and not harm the bees.
- Animal behaviour: Smothered by a swarm. Nature 460, 308-308 (15 July 2009) doi:10.1038/460308a
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Molecular Biology and Genetics
Molecular Biology
Statistics of barcoding coverage: Apis cerana japonica
Public Records: 0
Specimens with Barcodes: 2
Species With Barcodes: 1
© Barcode of Life Data Systems
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Wikipedia
Apis cerana japonica
Apis cerana japonica is a subspecies of honeybee native to Japan. It is commonly known as the Japanese honeybee (ニホンミツバチ Nihon mitsubachi). This subspecies was determined, through an analysis of mitochondrial DNA, to have originally come from the Korean peninsula.[1] They have been observed moving into urban areas due to lack of natural predators.[2]
A.c. japonica is very resistant to the mite Varroa jacobsoni, which is commonly found among A. cerana.[3]
Ecology and behavior [edit]
When an Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia) scout locates and approaches a Japanese honeybee hive it will emit specific pheromonal hunting signals. When the honeybees detect these pheromones, about one hundred will gather near the entrance of the nest and set up a trap, keeping it open apparently to draw the hornet further into the hive or allow it to enter on its own.[4]
As the hornet enters the nest, a large ball (see image, on the left) of about five hundred honeybees surround it, completely covering it and preventing it from moving.[5] The bees in the ball begin quickly vibrating their flight muscles, raising the temperature within the honeybee mass. In addition, the activity of the bees sharply raises the carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration within the ball.[6]
Japanese honeybees can generate temperatures of about 46 °C (115 °F), and at the CO2 concentrations they produce, they can tolerate temperatures of up to 51 °C (124 °F). However, the hornet cannot survive under these conditions for more than 10 minutes, resulting in its death.[6][7] Several bees may die along with the intruder, but the death of the hornet scout prevents it from summoning reinforcements which could wipe out the colony.[8]
Beekeepers in Japan attempted to introduce the European honeybee in order to increase honey productivity, but European bees lack the same defensive behavior against the hornet as A. c. japonica and the colonies are rapidly destroyed when discovered by the hornets.[4][9]
Resources [edit]
References [edit]
- ^ Takahashi, Jun'ichi; Yoshida, Tadaharu (2003). "The origin of Japanese honeybee Apis cerana japonica inferred from mitochondrial DNA.". Honeybee Science (in Japanese) (Japan) 24 (2): 71–76. ISSN 0388-2217. Archived from the original on 19 May 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-05.
- ^ Sugawara, Michio (2000). "Feral colonies of Japanese honeybees, Apis cerana japonica and their life history. 2. Natural nests and swarming.". Honeybee Science (in Japanese) (Japan) 21 (1): 35–39. ISSN 0388-2217. Archived from the original on 19 May 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-05.
- ^ Takenaka, Tetsuo; Takenaka, Yoko (1995-08-21). "Royal Jelly from Apis cerana japonica and Apis mellifera". Biosci. Biotech. And Biochem. (Japan: Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry) 60 (3): 518–520. Archived from the original on 29 May 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-05.
- ^ a b "Baked Hornet Japonais". Discover 17 (2): 16. February 1996. ISSN 0274-7529. OCLC 6560726. Archived from the original on 19 May 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-13.
- ^ Masato Ono, Takeshi Igarashi, Eishi Ohno, and Masami Sasaki (1995-09-28). "Unusual thermal defence by a honeybee against mass attack by hornets". Nature (Nature Publishing Group) 377 (6547): 334–336. doi:10.1038/377334a0. Archived from the original on 23 May 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-05.
- ^ a b Michio Sugahara and Fumio Sakamoto (2009-09-01). "Heat and carbon dioxide generated by honeybees jointly act to kill hornets". Naturwissenschaften (Springer-Verlag) 96 (9): 1133–1136. doi:10.1007/s00114-009-0575-0. Retrieved 2013-05-24.
- ^ "Honeybee mobs overpower hornets". BBC News. July 3, 2009. Retrieved 2013-05-24.
- ^ "Defensive Adaptations: Heat Tolerance as a Weapon". Davidson College Biology Department. Archived from the original on 14 April 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-05.
- ^ Piper, Ross (2007), Extraordinary Animals: An Encyclopedia of Curious and Unusual Animals, Greenwood Press.
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Wikipedia
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