Tuesday, June 30, 2026
Science

Social honey bees stay cool: How groups mitigate heat-triggered hormone spikes

Heat can change a honey bee's hormone levels, but only if the bee is alone. New research from MSU entomologist Zachary Huang shows that isolated honey bees experience a rapid hormonal rise when exposed to high temperatures, while bees kept in groups stay stable. The discovery highlights how social c...

Social honey bees stay cool: How groups mitigate heat-triggered hormone spikes
Image: Phys.org
Heat can change a honey bee's hormone levels, but only if the bee is alone. New research from MSU entomologist Zachary Huang shows that isolated honey bees experience a rapid hormonal rise when exposed to high temperatures, while bees kept in groups stay stable. The discovery highlights how social conditions and chemical signals shape bees' ability to withstand environmental stress.

Originally published at Phys.org

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