Our topic today is the Oriental hornet, Vespa Orentalis. For some time, scientists had know that the workers of this species were most active towards the middle of the day. It was only recently that they confirmed that they are capable of directly harvesting solar power. Under very close examination (on the nanometer scale), the brown segments of the hornet's abdomen are a series of reflective mirrors. They reflect the sun's energy onto structures on the yellow part of the abdomen, which contains a pigment with photoelectric properties, thus turning the light into electrical energy, which the hornets then use for their activities.
Story and picture courtesy of the BBC. Plenty more details, including microscope scans of the hornet's skin.
I'm lovin' the added science bits. Fascinating!
ReplyDeleteDoes solar power make it a green hornet?
ReplyDeleteQuote: "Does solar power make it a green hornet?"
ReplyDeleteBadump-bump-tsssshhhhh!!!
BTW, the hornet is highly offended; it prefers 'Asian hornet'.
I hate hornets. But this is cool.
ReplyDeleteNature is just too cool! Love it!
ReplyDeletecool info!!
ReplyDeletewhile vacationing...camping in GA...i saw the HUGEST hornets i'd ever seen! they were pretty aggressive...
i like to learn about them...see the pic's...but keep my distance!
((BTW-no more free spider posters are available...??))
haha
ReplyDeletelooks like unreal
That just shows how much human technology has to catch up to nature.
ReplyDelete