After a few shimmers, the bees release a chemical called Nasonov pheromone, which stops their comrades from breaking ranks. Giant honeybees are naturally aggressive, so there’s always a chance that the workers would fly off to try and engage the enemy on their own. That would be a mistake: even a giant bee is no match for a hornet in the air. But a team that stands its ground is almost invincible. Their waves seem to befuddle and distract the incoming hornets, forcing them to veer off course and retreat. Kastberger filmed more than 450 attacks, and not a single one was successful.

A giant bee is no match for a hornet in the air. But that team is invincible: