Hive killing hornets

[Angularity]

I have one hive that has dead hornets outside it, most days of the last week. Is there a way that bees can kill hornets here in UK? I have read about the Japanese bees doing this, but not over here.

 

[charlievictorbravo]

I have one hive that has dead hornets outside it, most days of the last week. Is there a way that bees can kill hornets here in UK? I have read about the Japanese bees doing this, but not over here.

The defense, which may be a learned tactic, is to for a number of bees to smother the hornet and overheat/suffocate it. There is some evidence that our honeybees will do this naturally but I would not wish to assert that all colonies of Apis mellifera would do it.

CVB

 

[Angularity]

Interestingly, the hornets seem to have learned as well.

The other two hives in the garden are under constant attack; the entrances are closed right down, and there is thick crowd of bees guarding the entrance, often covering the two or three inches of landing board in front of the entrance. Occasionally a flying bee is taken by a hornet, but they don't seem to be able to get into the hives. The hive that was killing hornets is now being left alone.