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Saturday, 12 September 2015

Hornet vs. Moth

When out checking my wine ropes last night, the most exciting thing that we saw was certainly this deadly encounter between a hornet and a yellow underwing - when we shone our torches on the two insects gorging themselves on sugary wine, the hornet realised the opportunity for a meal and attacked the moth, before buzzing around with the thorax ripped out. A grim end for the moth, but an impressive spectacle!!! (see video)



For better quality video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cv_SGZekm1w
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2 comments:

  1. Dave Wilton12 September 2015 at 20:56

    Fascinating! Pretty gruesome, but we have to accept that adult moths are way down the food-chain and most are going to end up as food for something, the majority of their siblings (as caterpillars) having already done so!!

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  2. Andrew King13 September 2015 at 12:14

    I recall watching a hornet 'trying it on' with a couple of Peacock Butterflies at a Buddleia bush. In daylight, of course. These are quite powerful butterflies (although I wouldn't have thought any stronger than a Large Yellow Underwing) and they just shrugged the wasp aside with a brush of the wings and flew away.
    Andy.

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