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Submerged bumblebee queens breathe underwater

Earth & EnvironmentLife Sciences

Key takeaway

Bumblebee queens can breathe underwater, which may help them survive floods and natural disasters that threaten their hives and colonies.

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Quick Explainer

Bumblebee queens can breathe underwater for up to a week while hibernating by switching to anaerobic metabolism, according to researchers at the University of Ottawa. This surprising adaptation allows the queens to survive floods in their underground hibernation sites.

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