Honey bee colonies may function as single living organisms, study suggests

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A new study proposes that a honey bee colony functions as a single living organism rather than a mere society of insects. Researchers argue that individual bees act like specialised cells, with the colony possessing its own life cycle, ageing process, and reproductive strategy through swarming.

This fresh perspective suggests that common beekeeping practices - such as preventing swarming and replacing queens - may disrupt natural developmental stages and parasite management.

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