How is the life of a social bumblebee characterized compared to the life of a cuckoo bumblebee?

Cumulative effort and constant labor

The behavioral signatures of the two types of bees reveal opposing life philosophies. The life of the social bee, whether queen or worker, is characterized by cumulative effort. This involves consistent, collective work, such as a queen building the initial nest or workers constantly foraging to feed the growing brood, establishing a routine of labor and return to the nest entrance. In stark contrast, the cuckoo's entire existence is defined by a single, high-risk, high-reward confrontation—the invasion and takeover of the host queen. After this brief, aggressive act, the cuckoo relies on the established infrastructure; she does not engage in regular foraging routines or cumulative effort.