Which sexual caste of the Yellowish Cuckoo Bumblebee is noted to be substantially larger than the other?
Answer
Queens
The parasitic female Yellowish Cuckoo Bumblebees, referred to as queens because they are the founding individuals, are notably larger than the males of the species. This sexual dimorphism, where one sex is significantly larger, is common in many bee species where the founding female must perform a crucial, challenging task. In the context of this parasitic species, the queen requires greater mass and physical robustness to successfully infiltrate, dominate, and usurp the established nest and queen of the host bumblebee species. This larger size aids directly in performing dominance displays or executing the physical intrusion required to initiate the nest takeover, ensuring the continuation of the parasitic lineage.
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