Why Do Bumblebees Suddenly Overthrow Their Queen And Murder Each Other?

Plants and Animals





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Bumblebee colonies sometimes mysteriously collapse into violent disorder. Steven Ellingson/Shutterstock

When you think of the humble bumblebee, images of an orderly, organized, efficient bee colony are likely to come to mind. Although for the most part this picture of a perfect colony is accurate, there comes a time when the colony descends into a pandemonium of violence, deceit, and murder. A new study, published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, reveals for the first time why this happens: it’s all down to the changing chemistry of the beeswax.