Bye-Bye Romance
On a holiday in Greece, I visited an irresistibly cute village with my then-boyfriend. Dressed up, made up, and well-smeared with sunscreen, we were ready for a romantic stroll. But my friend turned out to have tough competition.
Hornet Magnet
In Greece, it’s common to see fresh squid hanging from lines to dry in the sun. These squid don’t just attract hungry tourists, they’re also a magnet for wasps and hornets. And those hornets became my magnet.
There I was, in my cute red dress on slippery sandals, wobbling on a narrow wall. Sea behind me, a deep drop in front. But I wasn’t thinking about depths, nor about my boyfriend anymore. I was just thinking about those hornets. What fascinating animals they are! They were so deeply focused on their calamari meal that I could get remarkably close.
Once “home” in the apartment (having given my boyfriend some long-overdue attention), I looked up everything I could about my unexpected models of the day.
Hornet facts
Food and & Pheromones
- Hornets have a bad reputation, but they’re usually peaceful, unless food is involved. Around a good meal, they can sting without warning.
- Hornets communicate through chemical signals. If one detects a threat, it releases an alarm pheromone that tells others: Attack mode, ON.
And here’s the kicker: some perfumes, sunscreens and even mascara contain compounds that mimic these alarm signals. So if you wear a particularly inviting scent, you might trigger hornet rage without even realizing it.
Moral of the story? Sometimes romance really is the safer option.
More Hymenoptera (Flying insects)
