Breaking NewsUS Science

Bumblebees May Self-Medicate when Their Colony Faces Fungal Pathogen

August 28, 2026
0
Radiologically contaminated sites such as the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone have created novel environmental stressors with the potential to substantially influence the ecology of organisms and wider ecosystem function. Nevertheless, radiation dose rates at which negative effects occur are uncertain. Burrows et al investigated a potential mechanism for these sub-lethal consequences by testing whether radiation exposure makes bees less metabolically efficient. Image credit: Josef Pichler.

In a new study published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, buff-tailed bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) exposed to a brood-killing fungus shifted their foraging habits toward nectar laced with a natural antimicrobial compound, offering a rare glimpse of behavior consistent with self-medication in a social insect.

The post Bumblebees May Self-Medicate when Their Colony Faces Fungal Pathogen appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.

Internet Smart Technology

Recent Posts

editors picks

Top Reviews

X-twitter

© 2024 United Cultures.