Shining fluorescent light on bee sperm could help explain colony survival

Form follows function. This is the principle that the design or shape of something, whether made by humans or in nature, should serve a purpose.

Honeybees’ function is to pollinate plants, make honey, survive and reproduce. Along with other pollinators (birds, moths, butterflies, bats and many more) they are the unsung forces behind much of what people eat, drink and even wear. Animal pollinators are said to contribute to the production of 87 global crops in 200 countries, including 30% of the world’s food crops. Their labours have been valued at around €153 billion (about R2,6 trillion).

But in one review paper, researchers suggest that at current