New research has verified a remarkable survival trait in bumblebees. A study published in the journal Biology Letters found that hibernating queen bumblebees can survive for over a week when submerged underwater. This discovery suggests a possible adaptation to survive flooding in their underground hibernation sites during winter and spring.
The research, led by scientists at the University of Guelph in Canada, tested the aquatic resilience of common eastern bumblebee (Bombus impatiens) queens. The team submerged hibernating queens in water for periods of up to seven days. Remarkably, the survival rate after seven days of submersion was as high as 88% for some groups, comparable to queens that were not submerged at all.
The study indicates this survival is linked to a state of diapause, a form of hibernation where the bee's metabolic activity is extremely low. In this state, their oxygen requirements are minimal, allowing them to withstand periods of oxygen deprivation. The researchers hypothesize this could be an evolutionary response to frequent flooding in their natural environments.
This finding is significant for bumblebee conservation, as it highlights an unknown aspect of their life cycle. Understanding how queens survive environmental stressors like flooding can inform better land management and conservation strategies for these crucial pollinators, whose populations face numerous threats.
