How does a Bombus vestalis queen successfully take command of a host nest?
Answer
By utilizing physical confrontation to kill or suppress the host queen
The takeover is an aggressive process involving physical conflict. Upon entering a vulnerable nest, the parasitic queen confronts the incumbent host queen, either killing her outright or physically suppressing her behavior. Once the host queen is neutralized, the parasite exploits the chemical similarity between the two species to trick the resident workers into accepting her as the new queen.
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