social bees

A daily bee-fact series explains that solitary bees have milder stings than larger social bees. With no big nest or honey stores to defend, solitary bees only need enough sting to repel the occasional rival or attacking insect. The fact also notes that only female bees can sting at all. Readers following the series are picking up simple, accessible science about pollinators and bee behaviour.

A new paper in PLOS Computational Biology argues that seemingly inactive individuals in eusocial societies, such as bee and ant colonies, are not simply inefficient. The study suggests these 'lazy' members contribute to colony resilience, potentially serving as a reserve workforce or buffer against disturbances, challenging the assumption that constant activity is essential for collective success.