The oriental hornet is more active during the day, and tends to become even more active as the temperature rises. And now scientists have discovered the reason: the hornets are solar powered.
It turns out that the distinctive yellow stripe on the hornet’s abdomen is actually full of tiny protrusions that gather sunlight and harness it for energy. The insect also features a special pigment, called xanthopterin, that helps with the process. “Xanthopterin works as a light harvesting molecule transforming light into electrical energy,” Dr Marian Plotkin told the BBC.
Wasps and hornets tend to be more active during the morning, and this new research explains why the oriental hornet is different: it stays out during the day because there’s more sun.
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