Solar-Powered Hornet

Researchers at Tel-Aviv University observed that unlike other wasps, the Oriental hornet is most active in the middle of the day. Further investigation revealed that UVB radiation affects the hornet's activity level.

It turns out that an Oriental hornet's shell can trap sunlight, while the pigment xanthopterin converts it to energy. This explains why the hornet is most active mid-day. According to National Geographic, the hornet's cells are about .3% efficient at generating electricity. The majority of his energy comes from food

Read more in this blog entry on animals that eat sunshine


Read original Huffington Post entry here: Solar-Powered Animal, Oriental Hornet, Discovered By Tel-Aviv Scientists