European Hornet (Vespa crabro) - Mauling!
The over-ripe banana had two regular visitors over the course of several hours, and was mainly a one-in, one-out affair, but occassionally they'd be at the fruit at the same time for more than a few seconds.
One occasion saw this interaction that I wasn't familiar with. A locking of mandibles and legs and fairly robust wrestling, but no sign of real aggression or stingers. I've since discovered that the interaction (which lasted over 5 minutes) was called 'mauling' and is a common way for two hornets from the same colony to establish the hierarchy at the food source.
The biting and wrestling will determine the dominant hornet and she'll release her nest-mate with no physical damage. Fights between hornets from different nests are much more violent and often end with missing body parts!
European Hornet (Vespa crabro) - Mauling!
The over-ripe banana had two regular visitors over the course of several hours, and was mainly a one-in, one-out affair, but occassionally they'd be at the fruit at the same time for more than a few seconds.
One occasion saw this interaction that I wasn't familiar with. A locking of mandibles and legs and fairly robust wrestling, but no sign of real aggression or stingers. I've since discovered that the interaction (which lasted over 5 minutes) was called 'mauling' and is a common way for two hornets from the same colony to establish the hierarchy at the food source.
The biting and wrestling will determine the dominant hornet and she'll release her nest-mate with no physical damage. Fights between hornets from different nests are much more violent and often end with missing body parts!