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Updated: Aug 21, 2026

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In Vitro Rearing of Solitary Bees: A Tool for Assessing Larval Risk Factors
Published on: July 16, 2018
Tragedy of the commons in Melipona bees
Tom Wenseleers1, Francis L W Ratnieks
1Laboratory of Apiculture and Social Insects, Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK. tom.wenseleers@bio.kuleuven.ac.be
Proceedings. Biological Sciences
|October 27, 2004
Abstract:
In human society selfish use of common resources can lead to disaster, a situation known as the 'tragedy of the commons' (TOC). Although a TOC is usually prevented by coercion, theory predicts that close kinship ties can also favour reduced exploitation. We test this prediction using data on a TOC occurring in Melipona bee societies.
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