Orchid Bees in Costa Rica Challenge Social Hierarchies

In the southeast of Costa Rica, amidst the jungle, resides a unique hive of orchid bees that breaks with traditional hierarchies. These bees, which inhabit the La Gamba Tropical Station, have chosen to live freely, unlike honeybees and bumblebees, which coexist under the dominance of a queen. A recent study published in Biology Letters, led by Jonas Henske from the University of Bochum, reveals an unexpected finding about the social organization of these insects.