Canadian scientists have uncovered the mystery behind “palace coups” in bee colonies, according to a report in “Popular Science” based on findings published in the “Proceedings of the American Academy of Sciences.” Researchers at the University of British Columbia identified viral infections as a primary trigger for disturbances in the hive. These infections lead to reduced ovary size in queens and lower production of methyl oleate, a pheromone that controls worker bees. When its levels drop, the colony detects the queen’s weakness and prepares to replace her.
This scenario, reminiscent of a medieval tale, unfolds in the hive, not a palace: the ailing queen loses her workers’ confidence, prompting a coup to install a new leader. While this is a survival mechanism for the colony, it often results in diminished productivity and reduced bee and honey yields for beekeepers.
A robust queen can lay between 850 and 3,200 eggs daily, surpassing her own weight, says lead researcher Professor Leonard Foster. However, queens infected by the virus lay fewer eggs and generate less methyl oleate. The drop in this pheromone signals to worker bees that the queen is failing in her role.
This phenomenon, known as supersedure, occurs when the thousands of worker bees detect that their queen isn’t laying enough eggs. They then work together to replace her with a healthier queen.
With bees pollinating about a third of the world’s crops, the stability of their colonies is crucial for food security and ecosystems. Beekeepers, however, are increasingly observing premature queen replacement, with weakened queens being a key factor in winter hive losses.
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