Honeybees use wing slaps to fend off invading ants
scientificamerican.com — July 26, 2024, 02:00 PM UTC
Summary: Japanese honeybees (Apis cerana japonica) have developed a unique defense mechanism against invading ants, using their wings to slap the intruders. A study published in *Ecology* found that this wing-slapping behavior was observed using high-speed cameras, with success rates of 50-33% against certain ant species. The research raises questions about the behavior's prevalence and whether it is innate or learned.
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