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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

Honeybees rely on plant pollen as a protein-packed food source. And some are even willing to steal from other bees to get it.

Pollen stealing has been seen before, in the United States. But now, researchers in Italy have also observed honeybees snatching pollen off the backs of bumblebees.