Bumblebees, specifically hibernating queen common eastern bumblebees, have been found to survive underwater for up to a week.

The study, published in Biology Letters and conducted by the University of Guelph, involved an accidental submersion of 143 bumblebee queens.

Survival rates of bees submerged for up to seven days were comparable to those that were not submerged, indicating a high resilience to flooding.

This research marks the first documented instance of bumblebee queens' survival during extended submersion, providing new insights into their adaptability.

Future research is aimed at understanding the mechanisms behind this unexpected resilience and exploring if bees can survive beyond a week underwater.

Scientists also plan to investigate if this trait is shared among other bee species.

The findings underscore the significance of wild pollinators in maintaining food security and sustaining terrestrial ecosystems.