Group Size Buffers against Energetic Stress in Honeybee Workers (Apis mellifera)

Individuals of the Western honeybee species, Apis mellifera, live in large groups thousands worker bees, a queen, and few drones. Workers interact frequently with related individuals while performing various tasks. Although it is well understood why under which conditions sociality can evolve, consequences for living permanent are less understood. As solitary species become stressed when kept at high density, might be opposite obligate social species. Here, I use an experimental laboratory set-up to study effect varying group sizes on magnitude within-group variance stress responses towards energetic heat stress. While only weak difference was found response as function size, showed statistically significant positive relationship size glucose/trehalose ratio, marker The marker, hsp70AB gene expression, did not show any size. seem benefit from adaptations living, e.g., buffering against stress, especially higher density individuals. infections immune system activation isolated discussed.