They discovered a species of bumblebee that can survive underwater

Hornets are well known for their adaptive abilities. In fact, they manage to proliferate without major obstacles both in the city and in the countryside. However, researchers have discovered how this species, or at least a subspecies, is capable of survive even underwater.

The qualities of the common eastern bumblebee

The queens of eastern common horneta particularly widespread species in eastern North America, are able to survive immersion. During the hibernation phasethey manage to dive and survive up to a maximum of one week.

This type is well known for its tendency to burrow into the ground, so as to hibernate. According to researchers, this phenomenon could contribute to increase the chances of survival in case of floods. The researchers will use this discovery to test whether other species of hornets are also capable of doing the same.

Here are the doctor’s words Sabrina Rondeau from the University of Guelph, Canada: “We know that approximately one-third of all bumblebee species are currently in decline. However, this is not the case with the common eastern bumblebee.

The discovery came by pure chance. In fact, a accident in the laboratorywhich forced water into the containers where the hibernating queen bees. Rondeau explained how after this event curiosity pushed the experts to conduct a complete experiment, with numerous repetitions of desired localized “floods”.

Research

In the magazine Biology Letters the research has been published in its entirety. The scientists explained that they had captured 143 specimens of unmated and hibernating queens. These were placed in a plastic test tube, containing moist soil. In turn, the test tubes were equipped with perforated lids. Everything was stored inside a refrigerated unit, in the dark, for a total of one week.

We therefore proceeded to check that they were still alive after 7 days. Excluding 17, 126 of these tubes had cold water added. A group split down the middle, with one side seeing the queen left floating above the water. The other party, however, saw it pushed below the water level by a plunger.

A third of the 126 were left in these conditions for 8 hours, a third for 24 hours and a third for a week. Different flooding conditions were therefore simulated. At this point, once the long process was over, the hornets were transferred to new test tubes, carefully monitoring their conditions.

The data was clear, with similar survival rates, regardless of the duration and conditions to which the queens were subjected. 88% of the 17 were still alive after 8 weeks, as were 81% of the submerged queens. However, one thing was highlighted distinction relating to weight. The larger ones had a better chance of survival.

An unusual result, the team explained, because most insects that overwinter as adults cannot tolerate immersion in water. In order to survive they must first leave the floodplains. A study that will certainly not end here. The mechanisms underlying this resilience will be further explored. The team will attempt to detect exactly the oxygen requirement during hibernation. However, this will be only one of the important factors on which future analysis will focus.