Two researchers propose a new perspective on the honey bee colony life cycle

Two researchers propose a new perspective on the honey bee colony life cycle. They argue that when part of a colony leaves the hive with the old queen (swarming), the daughter queen left behind actually forms a completely new colony, a separate organism with its own lifespan. If true, a long-lasting hive represents a lineage of mother and daughter bees, potentially changing fundamental understanding of bee health and beekeeping practices.