A Queen Bee That Survives Submersion: A New Discovery That Challenges the Common Belief That "Bees Drown"

In early spring, you might spot large, fluffy bees in gardens or parks. These are often not worker bees but queen bees that have survived the winter. When they awaken in spring, they gather nectar and pollen from flowers, start building nests, and eventually become the "starting point" of a new colony. In other words, the survival of the queen can significantly influence the fate of the entire hive for that year.

A study has been reported that overturns previous assumptions about these queen bees. It appears that some hibernating bumblebee queens can survive underwater for several days and may even breathe while submerged. This surprising claim is not just a hypothesis; it began with an accidental flooding incident in a laboratory where stored queen bees were submerged but did not die. This led researchers to conduct a thorough investigation.

In a preliminary study published in 2024, it was shown that queens of the Common Eastern Bumblebee (Bombus impatiens), widely distributed in North America, could survive underwater for up to about a week during hibernation. According to reports, even in groups completely submerged for a week, the survival rate after eight weeks was about 81%, not significantly different from the control group's 88%. Additionally, heavier queens tended to survive more easily. This suggests that they may have physiological mechanisms to cope with situations like flooding, rather than just being lucky.

A new study reported on March 10, 2026, delved into why they can survive. The research team submerged hibernating queens in containers filled with cold water for eight days and measured how much oxygen they absorbed and how much carbon dioxide they released. The results showed that the oxygen concentration in the water decreased over time, and the queens continued to release carbon dioxide into the water. This suggests that they are obtaining oxygen from the surrounding water in some form. Additionally, an increase in lactic acid was found in their bodies, indicating the use of anaerobic metabolism, which does not rely on oxygen. In other words, the queens not only "breathe underwater" but also employ a dual safety mechanism to generate energy even in low-oxygen conditions.

The intrigue of this discovery lies not only in the surprising ability itself but also in its logical consistency with the life of queen bees. Bumblebee queens hibernate alone in shallow underground burrows during the winter. Heavy rain, snowmelt, and rising groundwater levels could easily flood these burrows. Thus, while they are flying insects, they face the risk of "underground flooding" during the most vulnerable season of their lives. It is not surprising that they have evolved the ability to survive such conditions. Although it may seem like an eccentric scientific news story, in the context of ecology, this ability is a natural response to real environmental pressures.

Of course, it would be a leap to say "bees are aquatic creatures" based on this. The study shows that this is a special survival mode possible because of the low metabolic state close to hibernation, not that active bees can freely live underwater. Researchers believe that because queens significantly reduce their metabolism during hibernation, their oxygen requirements are minimal. It has also been observed that their breathing rate increases for a while after emerging from the water, suggesting a "recovery period" is needed to process accumulated lactic acid. This should be seen as an emergency mode to endure extreme conditions, not a universal superpower.

So, how do they absorb oxygen underwater? This remains unclear. Researchers suggest that, like many aquatic insects, they may maintain a thin layer of air around their body surface for gas exchange. If so, their fluffy body hair and surface structure might play a crucial role. However, the specific mechanism is still unknown and remains a subject for future research. When reporting this, it would be more honest to leave room for interpretation rather than making definitive statements. Nature often challenges our common sense before all answers are fully revealed.

The context of climate change also adds to the attention this topic has garnered. Intensifying heavy rains and changing rainfall patterns could become significant stressors for insects hibernating underground. Researchers have noted that an important question for the future is whether they can withstand repeated flooding. While they may survive a single flood, repeated submersion could deplete their energy reserves, affecting nest building and egg-laying in spring. While this discovery offers hope, it does not mean there is no longer any cause for concern. In fact, even in the 2024 study, there was a cautious view that while queens might survive, the same might not be true for underground larvae or other terrestrial insects.

The reactions on public social media and forums are intriguing. As far as can be confirmed, reactions fall into three main categories. The first is simple amazement: "Is that possible?" or "Nature is still full of mysteries." On Reddit's science threads, in addition to expressions of surprise at this ability, there were also responses imagining the next stage of research, such as "Do other insects have similar abilities?" or "Is it due to a common ancestor or convergent evolution?" The second category connects to climate change. In past related article threads, there were acknowledgments of the importance of flood resistance in an era of increasing heavy rains and some expressions of slight relief. The third category finds amusement in the serendipity of the research. Many seemed to appreciate the human element of science, where new insights emerged from an "accident" in the lab.

These social media reactions are quite suggestive. People are instinctively drawn not just to "poor bees" or "amazing," but to the fact that familiar creatures had hidden abilities we didn't know about. We often judge the abilities of organisms based on their appearance or classification. Flying insects are weak in water, fluffy bees are delicate, and so on. However, real nature is much more pragmatic, resilient, and has acquired concrete coping strategies against disasters than human impressions suggest. The queen bee in this study seems to symbolize that. Behind its cute appearance lies a quiet strength that withstands submersion.

Furthermore, this research is significant because it looks at the "future of the colony" rather than just the "surviving individual." Bumblebee societies start with a single queen in early spring. If the queen is lost to flooding, that lineage might end in that region for the year. Conversely, if even one queen survives, new worker bees will be born, and the pollination network will be reactivated. Bumblebees are important pollinators for agriculture and ecosystems, so the survival ability of the queen is not just a rare insect ability but also a matter connected to landscapes and food production. Therefore, this discovery should not end as a strange and interesting news story but should be viewed from the perspective of "what kind of individuals, with what mechanisms, can survive to what extent." It reflects both the resilience of living organisms and their limits.

The points of interest for the future are clear. Do other bumblebee species have similar abilities? What about the larvae and the entire nest? Does reproductive success decrease with multiple submersions? To what extent do body hair and surface structures assist in breathing? Once answers to these questions are gathered, this phenomenon should transform from a "surprising tidbit" to an important theme for considering "insect physiology in the era of climate change."

We tend to be captivated by flashy evolution. Flying fast, being venomous, mimicking—such easily understandable abilities make for good news. But what might truly be remarkable is the ability to survive quietly in the cold water underground during winter, unseen by anyone. Behind a single queen bee flying over flowers in spring lies such a quiet history of survival. This study has, for the first time, properly shone a light on that silent strength. What we are witnessing is not just a "bee that doesn't drown," but the very persistence of a living creature striving to carry life into the next season, even amidst a changing climate.

Source URL

・The New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/10/science/bumlebees-queens-underwater-breathe.html

・Science News article (Summary of the 2026 study. Confirmation of oxygen absorption, carbon dioxide emission, lactic acid increase, and increased breathing during recovery underwater)
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/bumblebee-queens-breathe-underwater

・Proceedings of the Royal Society B paper DOI (2026 original research paper. Main study on queen bees using underwater respiration, anaerobic metabolism, and deep metabolic suppression)
https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2025.3141

・ScienceAlert article (General explanation of the 2026 study. Used for positioning and significance of the original research)
https://www.sciencealert.com/we-finally-know-how-bumblebee-queens-can-survive-underwater-for-days

・Biology Letters related article (2024 preliminary study. Initial report showing that hibernating queen bees survived underwater for up to a week)
https://royalsocietypublishing.org/rsbl/article/20/4/20230609/63584/Unveiling-the-submerged-secrets-bumblebee-queens

・The Guardian article (Summary of the 2024 study. Used to supplement survival rates, relationship with body weight, and connection with climate change)
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/apr/17/bumblebee-species-common-eastern-survive-underwater-hibernating

・Reddit r/science thread (Reactions confirmed on public forums. Referenced to understand interest trends such as "surprise" and "do other insects have it?")
https://www.reddit.com/r/science/comments/1rqfj3w/we_finally_know_how_bumblebee_queens_can_survive/

・Science News official Threads (Confirmation of the topic's popularity. Used to verify that it was shared as general science news on social media)
https://www.threads.net/@sciencenewsmagazine