Honey bees (Apis mellifera) attacking a hornet (Vespa crabro). Honeybees survive a 1 degree Celsius higher body temperature than hornets. When they attack the hornet, they cover it, heat their own bodies as much as they can and overheat the hornet. After half an hour, the hornet is dead. The ball dissolves and the Hornet is carried away from the hive. Germany.