Occurred on June 30, 2022 / Dohr, Germany Info from Licensor: "I am Lothar Lenz, a nature photographer with heart and soul, and I am lucky enough to live in a small cul-de-sac village in the Eifel - surrounded by fields, forests and stream valleys, just a stone's throw from the Moselle valley. Here I can experience nature in all its diversity and observe some of the most fascinating animals right on my doorstep: Black storks, wildcats and eagle owls are my permanent neighbors. In summer, my garden is full of hornets and wasps, which I capture with my camera, whether in impressive close-ups or exciting video sequences. This closeness to nature inspires me every day and drives me to capture the beauty and uniqueness of our environment in my photographs. My desire is to inspire and motivate others to get involved in protecting this wonderful world - be it in distant regions or right on their own doorstep. In the nest of the hornet (Vespa crabro), cooperation between the queen and the workers plays a decisive role in the survival of the entire colony. During the reproductive period, the queen initially takes on the task of laying eggs from which the larvae hatch. The life of the larvae, which represent the future workers and potential queens, depends largely on the care provided by the workers. At the beginning of the summer cycle, the queen lays her eggs in a carefully constructed nest. These eggs develop into larvae, which do not yet have their own protective mechanism and are completely dependent on the care of the workers. The workers, who were previously looked after as larvae themselves in the nest, now take on a variety of tasks, including providing the larvae with food. Hornet larvae feed mainly on a protein slurry produced by the workers. The workers collect various insects, which they chew up in small pieces and mix with their own digestive enzymes to produce a nutritious liquid. This liquid is then transferred into the larvae's mouth by the workers inserting their head into the larval case and delivering the food directly into the larva's throat in a kind of “feeding transfer”. The larvae respond with specific “feeding songs” that attract the workers and encourage them to feed. The larvae use a specific type of vibration or sound to signal to the workers that they are hungry. In response, the workers give them the food they need. While this care process is continuous, the queen takes on a more passive role after laying her eggs. She concentrates on fulfilling her reproductive functions while the workers take over the work of caring for the brood. The workers also take care of the protection of the nest and its expansion by continuously building new combs and protecting the nest from predators or other threats."