Solar-powered wasps

[The Shaman]

"The pigment melanin gives the [Oriental] hornet [(Vespa orientalis)] its dominant brown colour. The pigment xanthopterin, in the head and abdomen in a form of stripes and bands, gives the Oriental hornet its bright yellow colour," explains Dr Plotkin.

"Xanthopterin works as a light harvesting molecule transforming light into electrical energy."

. . .

"We assume that some of the energy is transformed in a photo-biochemical process which aids the hornets with their energy demanding digging activity," Dr Plotkin told the BBC. (source)

I've long used solar-powered aliens in Traveller, but as it turns out, we don't need to travel to other stars to find critters fueled by the sun.

Nature is so bloody cool.

 

[frankthedm]

Cute bug.



Cute at least compared to it's larger and demonic looking cousin.



These things apparently have a horrifically large stinger, shown disturbingly well at 1.24 -1:28 in this video.
LiveLeak.com - Vacuum Hunter vs Giant Hornets

 

[Runestar]

Oh...not the cr23 solar found in the monster manual...

 

[Cyronax]

I've long used solar-powered aliens in Traveller, but as it turns out, we don't need to travel to other stars to find critters fueled by the sun.

Nature is so bloody cool.

In other news: Scientists Discover 'Kryptonite' in Serbian Mine - Science News | Science & Technology | Technology News - FOXNews.com

 

[Wiseblood]

Indeed nature has got some freaky stuff. Need an egg laying venemous mammal? Yep we got one.

 

[The Shaman]

Cute bug.

Yeah, they're really quite striking.

Cute at least compared to it's larger and demonic looking cousin. . . .These things apparently have a horrifically large stinger, shown disturbingly well . . .

Holy , that would be like getting stabbed with a screwdriver!

 

[CharlesRyan]

I've run into those here in the US. The ones I've encountered lived in holes in the ground and were either solitary or the nests were small (or perhaps just not busy). The sting does suck, but not that much more than a normal wasp.

They are big--bigger than the video makes them seem. About the length of your little finger.

 

[frankthedm]

I've run into those here in the US.

Flamethrower - Private ownership

 

[Umbran]

"We assume that some of the energy is transformed in a photo-biochemical process which aids the hornets with their energy demanding digging activity," Dr Plotkin told the BBC.

Color me skpetical.

1) If they are digging underground, they aren't getting a whole lot of sunlight. Unless they keep stepping out for sunlight snacks, I'm not sure how it'd help.

2) More importantly - assumption is not proof. The fact they contain a substance that can do this doesn't mean they are using that property.