Being a bumblebee queen is no easy task. Before starting her colony in the spring, a queen must survive the winter by hibernating alone in the soil, facing dangers like floods.
Researchers Sabrina Rondeau and Nigel Raine were investigating how hibernating queens react to pesticides. A mishap in Raine’s lab caused some queen vials to flood, but to their surprise, the queens survived.
Curious about the queens’ waterproof abilities, Rondeau and Raine conducted a study with 143 bumblebee queens. Some were submerged underwater for different durations, while others served as controls. The results were fascinating, showing the resilience of these queens even in challenging conditions.
Date: 2024-04-16 18:01:00
Source: www.sciencenews.org