Scientists have discovered that bees can survive underwater for up to a week challenging the conventional belief that bees dislike water. This astonishing finding sheds new light on the resilience and adaptability of these remarkable creatures.
The discovery was made by researchers at the University of Guelph in Canada who were conducting a study to investigate the effects of pesticides on honeybee queens buried underground. The study focusing on a specific type of bee known as the Bombus impatiens took an unexpected turn when a mishap caused the bees to be submerged in water.
To their amazement, the scientists found that not only did the bees survive the ordeal but many of them actually thrived underwater. This prompted further investigation to determine whether bees could indeed survive extended periods submerged in water.
For this purpose, 147 bees were carefully selected and placed in glass bottles filled with water. Some bottles were left open to allow air exchange while others were sealed to simulate a submerged environment. Additionally, a group of bees was kept in dry bottles as a control group.
The results were astonishing. Ninety percent of the bees submerged in water survived with some individuals lasting as long as seven days underwater. Remarkably, 17 bees were able to survive the entire duration of the experiment submerged in water.
While the exact mechanism by which bees survive underwater remains unclear, researchers speculate that bees may have a unique ability to extract oxygen from water through specialized breathing techniques.
This discovery opens up new avenues for research into the underwater survival mechanisms of bees and could have implications for understanding their behaviour and ecology in various environments. It also underscores the importance of further studying and conserving these vital pollinators whose resilience continues to astonish and inspire.
