News Animals

The first male bees spotted babysitting are mostly stepdads

The behavior may have evolved from males lurking to mate

male bee

KNOCK  Mother bees have to do their own hunting for pollen and nectar in the Ceratina nigrolabiata species, but a male bee (shown) eager to mate with her will watch her young while she’s gone.

Lukáš Janošík

By Susan Milius

- More than 2 years ago

Scientists have discovered the first case of male bees babysitting, and it turns out that these males often aren’t biological bee dads but hopeful stepdads of the youngsters.