> On Tue, 23 Jul 1996, Dan Mihalyfi wrote:
>
>> I have a question for the entomologists...
>>
>> In the Earth Almanac department of the April, 1996 National
>> Geographic, there is a blurb about bees in Japan that use heat defense
>> against giant hornets. I've also read of these bees in other bee
>> literature
>>
>> My question is...
>>
>> Are these bees a race of Apis mellifera or a member of one of the
>> other four species of honey bee?
>>
>> I can't find any clues in the Hive and The Honey Bee.
>> >From the picture in the article, they sure look like honey bees.
>>
>with the understanding that I'm not an entomologist, I believe those bees
>are Apis cerena...but I will leave it to the experts..:)
 
***********
 
   According to my source, it appears that you are refering to Apis cerana
japonica (Japanese honey bee).
 
   When a sparrow wasp attacks the hive entrance the Apis cerana (but not
Apis mellifera) "smothers" the attacking wasp with guard bees.  The wasp
apparently overheats.
 
                                                         Adrian
 
Adrian M. Wenner                         (805) 893-2838 (UCSB office)
Ecol., Evol., & Marine Biology           (805) 893-8062  (UCSB FAX)
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