Michael Luna, an expert in the wireless data industry who has worked with companies such as Jawbone and Seven Networks, loves bees. Michael Luna considers his interest in bees during his work with Jawbone and similar companies, as bees provide insights into the behavior of other social animals, including humans.
One way in which bees behave socially is to band together for mutual safety and defense, and the Japanese honey bee provides an excellent example of this behavior. Some hornets which prey on honey bees present a unique challenge for hive defense, and can easily tear apart a European honey bee colony. To defend themselves, Japanese honey bees swarm onto the hornet in droves and vibrate until they become extremely hot, overwhelming the hornet and ultimately cooking it alive. The bees themselves can withstand higher temperatures than the hornets.
Recent research indicates that the bees' genetics play a role in keeping this form of attack safe for the bees. Once bees reach the temperature that is lethal for the hornet but still safe for them, a gene connected to the sensory region of the bee brain becomes active. Scientists hypothesize that this activity tells the bee that it's reached the “hornet-cooking temperature,” at which point the group stops quivering.
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