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Some honeybees in Italy regularly steal pollen off the backs of bumblebees

New observations shed light on what drives honeybees to lives of larceny

A photo of a purple flower with two fuzzy, dark bumblebees and a smaller, lighter honeybee on the flower. The honeybee is trying to steal the plant protein off the backs of the bumblebees.

Honeybees are known pollen pigs, as evidenced by this honeybee in Italy observed stealing pollen from these bumblebees.

Londei and G. Marzi/Apidologie 2023

By Darren Incorvaia

Read another version of this article at Science News Explores

Honeybees rely on plant pollen as a protein-packed food source.