Sweat Bee (<em>Halictus ligatus</em>) (IMAGE)

North Carolina State University

Sweat Bee (<em>Halictus ligatus</em>)

Caption

Researchers have found that the larger the colony size associated with a eusocial insect species, the weaker its immune response. For example, honey bees (Apis mellifera) form large colonies and exhibit complex group behaviors - and they had a significantly less pronounced immune response than sweat bees like the one pictured here (Halictus ligatus), which live in much smaller groups.

Credit

Elsa Youngsteadt

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