bumblebee

An Irish-based bee expert shared a daily fact noting that bumblebees take anywhere from 20 to 35 days to develop from egg to adult, depending on species and conditions. Half of that time is spent as a feeding larva and half as a pupa inside a cocoon. The fact is part of a regular daily series sharing basic bee knowledge, drawing attention to pollinators and biodiversity.

Researchers filmed bumblebees landing on a flower model sliding sideways twice a second, capturing 48 landings with three high-speed cameras and rebuilding them in three dimensions. The bees banked to match the platform's motion, lagging slightly behind it, and mathematical models were used to explain the manoeuvre.