Research: Honey Bee Smell Evolves from Larva to Adult
A new study reveals that honey bee larvae lack the sophisticated olfactory senses of adults, a trait researchers attribute to the intensive care provided by nurse bees. This evolutionary trade-off allows larvae to focus on growth while relying entirely on their colony for survival.
Why it matters
Understanding the social evolution of honey bees provides insights into how complex biological systems and cooperative behaviors develop in nature.
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Honey bee larvae lack the sophisticated olfactory capabilities of adult honey bees, a new study finds. Scientists point to this temporary loss-of-function as a side effect of the nurse bees' heroic level of brood care, calling it a consequence of social evolution.
The new findings are detailed in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Honey bees are highly eusocial, an evolutionarily advanced system in which reproduction is limited to one or a very few individuals while nonreproductive workers care for the young. Various bee species differ in the amount of attention they bestow on their young, with honey bees representing one of the most intensive levels of care.
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