Bumble bee workers adopt novel behavioral roles and reshape their social networks in the absence of a queen
Dee M. Ruttenberg, Scott Wolf, Andrew E. Webb, Eli S. Wyman, Michelle L. White, Diogo Melo, Ian M. Traniello, Sarah D. Kocher
The paper shows that in queenless bumble bee colonies, workers show increased behavioral variation and take on influential roles, leading to a shift from centralized to decentralized social networks.
bioRxiv · Jan 7, 2025 · PreprintAnimal Behavior & Cognition