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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 6, 2026

Obtaining Specimens with Slowed, Accelerated and Reversed Aging in the Honey Bee Model

Obtaining Specimens with Slowed, Accelerated and Reversed Aging in the Honey Bee Model

Published on: August 29, 2013

Evolution: plastic sociality in a sweat bee.

Michel Chapuisat¹

¹Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Biophore, Quartier Sorge, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland. Michel.Chapuisat@unil.ch

Current Biology : CB

|November 25, 2010

Summary

Honey bees can switch between solitary and social behaviors based on environmental cues. This transplant experiment reveals the plasticity of sociality in sweat bees, offering insights into the evolution of bee societies.

Area of Science:

Behavioral ecology
Evolutionary biology
Entomology

Background:

Social behavior in insects, particularly bees, is a key area of evolutionary study.
Understanding the environmental triggers for sociality is crucial for explaining the diversity of bee life histories.

Discussion:

This study utilized a transplant experiment to investigate the environmental influences on social behavior in sweat bees.
The findings demonstrate that sweat bees can exhibit either a solitary or social lifestyle, indicating significant behavioral plasticity.

Key Insights:

Environmental conditions can directly influence whether a bee species adopts a solitary or social structure.
Sweat bees possess the flexibility to transition between different social systems, challenging previous assumptions about fixed sociality.

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RNAi-mediated Double Gene Knockdown and Gustatory Perception Measurement in Honey Bees (Apis mellifera)

RNAi-mediated Double Gene Knockdown and Gustatory Perception Measurement in Honey Bees (Apis mellifera)

Published on: July 25, 2013

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A Proboscis Extension Response Protocol for Investigating Behavioral Plasticity in Insects: Application to Basic, Biomedical, and Agricultural Research

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RNAi-mediated Double Gene Knockdown and Gustatory Perception Measurement in Honey Bees (Apis mellifera)

RNAi-mediated Double Gene Knockdown and Gustatory Perception Measurement in Honey Bees (Apis mellifera)

Published on: July 25, 2013

Outlook:

Further research can explore the specific environmental factors that promote sociality or solitary behavior.
Understanding this plasticity can provide broader insights into the evolution of social behavior across different taxa.