Japanese honeybees slap ants to defend their hive

Ants invade honeybee nests, seeking to steal honey, prey on eggs or kill worker bees. Footage from a high-speed camera shows that guard bees, positioned near a nest’s entrance, tilt their bodies towards an approaching ant, and then flutter their wings while they pivot away. A successful hit sends the ant flying. Learn more ➤ Subscribe ➤ Get more from New Scientist: Official website: Facebook: Twitter: Instagram: LinkedIn: About New Scientist: New Scientist was founded in 1956 for “all those interested in scientific discovery and its social consequences”. Today our website, videos, newsletters, app, podcast and print magazine cover the world’s most important, exciting and entertaining science news as well as asking the big-picture questions about life, the universe, and what it means to be human. New Scientist