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Small worker bumble bees (Bombus impatiens) are hardier against starvation than their larger sisters

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 09:05 authored by Margaret J Couvillon, A Dornhaus
In bumble bees (Bombus spp.), where workers within the same colony exhibit up to a tenfold difference in mass, labor is divided by body size. Current adaptive explanations for this important life history feature are unsatisfactory. Within the colony, what is the function of the smaller workers? Here, we report on the differential robustness to starvation of small and large worker bumble bees (Bombus impatiens); when nectar is scarce, small workers remain alive significantly longer than larger workers. The presence of small workers, and size variation in general, might act as insurance against times of nectar shortage. These data may provide a novel, adaptive explanation, independent of division of labor, for size polymorphism within the worker caste.

History

Publication status

  • Published

Journal

Insectes Sociaux

ISSN

0020-1812

Publisher

Springer Verlag

Issue

2

Volume

57

Page range

193-197

Department affiliated with

  • Evolution, Behaviour and Environment Publications

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2012-02-06

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