Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Scientists Discover Solar Powered Hornets

Posted by samzenpus on from the beware-of-the-electric-bees dept.

adeelarshad82 writes "The oriental hornet is more active during the day, and tends to become even more active as the temperature rises. And now scientists have discovered the reason: the hornets are solar powered. It turns out that the distinctive yellow stripe on the hornet's abdomen is actually full of tiny protrusions that gather sunlight and harness it for energy. The insect also features a special pigment, called xanthopterin, that helps with the process."

8 of 177 comments (clear)

  1. Oh no.... by JDeane · · Score: 3, Funny

    I for one welcome our solar powered insect overlords?

    1. Re:Oh no.... by NoSleepDemon · · Score: 4, Funny

      What we know for sure is that we did this to the sky, it was believed at the time that the hornets used solar power as their main energy source...

  2. Solar powered eh... by mswhippingboy · · Score: 5, Funny

    Guess that would make one a "green" hornet...

    Sorry, couldn't resist...

    --
    Sometimes the light at the end of the tunnel is the headlight of an oncoming train.
    1. Re:Solar powered eh... by MarkRose · · Score: 5, Funny

      Ouch, that one stung.

      --
      Be relentless!
    2. Re:Solar powered eh... by Anne_Nonymous · · Score: 5, Funny

      "Green" does seem to be a buzzword these days.

    3. Re:Solar powered eh... by cvnautilus · · Score: 4, Funny

      They couldn't get enough energy from pollen, so they moved to plan bee.

  3. Good news, everyone! Energy crisis solved! by lennier · · Score: 4, Funny

    Soon every suburban house will have its own massive angry hornet array and all our problems will be over.

    --
    You are not a brain: http://books.google.com/books?id=2oV61CeDx-YC
  4. Waspinator by hort_wort · · Score: 3, Funny

    Terrorize!

    *gets modded down*
    "Waspinator has a headache in his whole body!"