Cool Facts About the Japanese Honeybee
- As you may have suspected the Japanese Honeybee is a honeybee subspecies that is native to Japan. They are closely related to North American and European honeybees but have a much better defensive strategy then their cousins
- These bees are capable of heating up to 48 degrees Celsius (118.4 degrees Fahrenheit). If human temperature reached this level, we would would most likely die a hot and sweaty death
- The Japanse Honeybee is known for using this heat as a weapon against any would-be attackers
Can’t Handle the Heat…Get Out of the Hive
Naturally, we need to discuss the amazing phenomenon of the Japanese Honeybee. Of course, I am talking about the way they protect their hive from potential intruders. You see the Giant Hornet is a massive insect that typically wrecks havoc on honeybee hives…well, most honeybee hives. Over the years the Japanese Honeybee sub-species has evolved an amazing ability to generate temperatures up to 48 degrees Celsius. How does this protect them, you ask? Let’s just say an Asian Giant Hornet scout comes by to check out the honeybee hive. Just before he enters, he will release a hunting pheromone. The clever little honeybees will pick up on this pheromone and begin setting their trap.
What is their trap?
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Well, they let the intruder enter the hive before a hundred or so bees surround the hornet. Once they have created this massive ball of bees they will begin vibrating so fast that it causes the internal temperature of the bee ball to hit somewhere between 46 and 48 degrees Celsius. And luck would have it that the Asian Giant Hornet dies at any temperature above 46 degrees Celsius. Do you want to take a guess what the lethal temperature is for the Japanese Honeybee? Yep, you guessed it, 48 degrees Celsius and above. Now that is evolution at its best!
How do they regulate this temperature?
Considering these bees are capable of keeping this temperature between 46 and 48 degrees for up to an hour, it has posed the very important question of “how in the world do they regulate this”. Researchers have discovered that there is a gene that increases the activity of a section of their brain known as “the mushroom” . It is believed that this section of the brain acts as the bees thermostat keeping the temperature of the bee ball between 46 and 48 degrees. Who would have thought that a thermostat can save and/or destroy lives – that is a powerful thermostat.
