Off the Bucket List, Pt. 2 - - _TNY_5035
By now, I've photographed quite a lot of different bugs and spiders, but one species which have eluded me and my camera up until now is the European hornet (Vespa crabro).
This is the largest social wasp in Europe (and since it is established in North America since the mid-1800s - the largest there as well and the only true hornet there).
This one managed to catch some sort of tachinid fly (Tachinidae sp.) and landed on a thistle and procided to chop it up while hanging from just two legs.
The venom of these aren't more venomous than that of the smaller wasps in the Vespula and Dolichovespula genus (ie social wasps/yellowjackets) - but there is a kicker. Hornet venom contains much more of the signal substance acethylcholine, ACh.
What this does is that while there isn't any more swelling from the venom, the signal substance carries the pain "signal" better, meaning it hurts more.
Fortunately, hornets are much more chill than their smaller cousins and not particularily interested in attacking. They also prefer tree sap to human sugary products like soda.
Part 1 here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/53079050692/
Off the Bucket List, Pt. 2 - - _TNY_5035
By now, I've photographed quite a lot of different bugs and spiders, but one species which have eluded me and my camera up until now is the European hornet (Vespa crabro).
This is the largest social wasp in Europe (and since it is established in North America since the mid-1800s - the largest there as well and the only true hornet there).
This one managed to catch some sort of tachinid fly (Tachinidae sp.) and landed on a thistle and procided to chop it up while hanging from just two legs.
The venom of these aren't more venomous than that of the smaller wasps in the Vespula and Dolichovespula genus (ie social wasps/yellowjackets) - but there is a kicker. Hornet venom contains much more of the signal substance acethylcholine, ACh.
What this does is that while there isn't any more swelling from the venom, the signal substance carries the pain "signal" better, meaning it hurts more.
Fortunately, hornets are much more chill than their smaller cousins and not particularily interested in attacking. They also prefer tree sap to human sugary products like soda.
Part 1 here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/53079050692/