Occurred on September 8, 2018 / 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 garden, I observed a remarkable and aggressive interaction between hornets and wasps, showcasing their competition over a shared food source. The scene took place around ripe fruit, which attracted numerous insects. The hornets stood out with their dominant and territorial behavior, ensuring access to the food source. Hornets approached the fruit with purposeful flight, inspecting their surroundings before taking action. Upon spotting wasps on the fruit, they acted aggressively, grabbing them with their powerful mandibles, biting them off the fruit, and flinging them into the air. These attacks were precise and efficient, with the hornets showing no hesitation. The wasps had little chance to defend themselves or retaliate. After successfully driving them away, the hornets occupied the now-cleared feeding spot and began consuming the fruit. Their dominant presence appeared to discourage other insects, as fewer wasps returned over time. The slow-motion footage revealed fascinating details of these encounters: the hornets attacked with precise movements that lasted mere fractions of a second. Their strong mandibles were clearly visible, demonstrating their physical superiority over the smaller wasps. The force with which the wasps were flung away highlighted the hornets’ strength and the wasps’ relative fragility. Throughout the entire sequence, the hornets remained steady and unaffected by the behavior of the wasps or their surroundings. This observed behavior highlights the fierce competition for food sources in nature. As larger and stronger representatives of social wasps, hornets are well-equipped to dominate smaller species like wasps. Their aggressive actions are an effective strategy to secure resources, especially during late summer and autumn when food becomes scarcer. The displacement of wasps by hornets underscores not only their physical dominance but also their ability to assert themselves in dynamic environments. At the same time, it reflects the complex social and ecological pressures insects face. The slow-motion recording provides a detailed glimpse into this often-overlooked behavior and illustrates the hornets’ impressive adaptability and strength. Observations like this shed light on the intricate interactions within the animal kingdom, shaped by competition, survival strategies, and the relentless quest for resources."