On many occasions, virgin M. scutellaris queens avoid being killed by the workers and abandon their own nests.
During their escape, they are able to identify and invade other colonies that have been orphaned by the death of their original queen, the mother of the other bees in the colony.
These invasions usually occur around sunset, when the workers guarding the nest entrance are less alert.
During the day, there is intense movement as bees bring pollen and nectar into the hive, and many workers remain alert as they guard the entrance to the colony to prevent theft of their food stores.
It is difficult to penetrate the blockade.
But at the end of afternoon, when the search for food slows down and the light diminishes, their vigilance wanes, and parasite queens take advantage of the inattentiveness.
Through this stealthy strategy, bees without a queen-right act as social parasites: they are able to take advantage of unrelated workers and benefit from their work.
On many occasions, virgin M. scutellaris queens avoid being killed by the workers and abandon their own nests. During their escape, they are able to identify and invade other colonies that have been orphaned by the death of their original queen, the mother of the other bees in the colony. These invasions usually occur around sunset, when the workers guarding the nest entrance are less alert. During the day, there is intense movement as bees bring pollen and nectar into the hive, and many workers remain alert as they guard the entrance to the colony to prevent theft of their food stores. It is difficult to penetrate the blockade. But at the end of afternoon, when the search for food slows down and the light diminishes, their vigilance wanes, and parasite queens take advantage of the inattentiveness. Through this stealthy strategy, bees without a queen-right act as social parasites: they are able to take advantage of unrelated workers and benefit from their work.
Melipona scutellaris