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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."

6 of 177 comments (clear)

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

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

    Sorry, couldn't resist...

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    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.

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

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

  2. Re:journal article by Jah-Wren+Ryel · · Score: 5, Informative

    It's unfortunately paywalled, but in case anyone has access to a library with a subscription, the journal article this news article is about is:

    Plotkin et al. (2010). Solar energy harvesting in the epicuticle of the oriental hornet (Vespa orientalis). Naturwissenschaften 97(12): 1067-1076.

    The full text works for me and I'm not in a library or anywhere else with a journal subscription.

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    When information is power, privacy is freedom.
  3. Re:What does the wasp do with it? by MichaelSmith · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Brings to mind the Platypus which uses electricity to locate prey. Maybe hornets use electric potentials as a sensory input.

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  4. Re:What does the wasp do with it? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Photosynthesis is quite a bit more efficient that photovoltaic cells

    Uh no. Photosynthesis efficiency varies from 0.1% to 8%. Solar panels go from 6% to 41%. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photosynthesis#Efficiency .