Scientists reveal the hidden pause that keeps bee colonies alive
Bumblebee queens don t work nonstop. UC Riverside scientists discovered that queens take strategic reproductive breaks early in colony formation likely to conserve energy and increase the chance of survival. These pauses aren t due to stress but are a built-in response to brood development stages. The study shows queen behavior is far more flexible and dynamic than previously thought, potentially offering new insights into how to protect declining bee populations.
Bumblebee queens don t work nonstop. UC Riverside scientists discovered that queens take strategic reproductive breaks early in colony formation likely to conserve energy and increase the chance of survival. These pauses aren t due to stress but are a built-in response to brood development stages. The study shows queen behavior is far more flexible and dynamic than previously thought, potentially offering new insights into how to protect declining bee populations.
