Neuroethology of Corpse-Directed Behaviors in Bees

Stephanie Yiru Zhu, Z Yan Wang

Across taxa, social animals inevitably encounter dying or dead conspecifics and respond in patterned ways, yet the mechanisms underlying these behaviors remain understudied. Bees offer a powerful comparative system for exploring the neuroethology of corpse-directed behaviors. Across the bee phylogeny, sociality has been gained and lost multiple times, resulting in species that range from solitary to highly eusocial. As nesting became increasingly communal, bees evolved diverse corpse-directed behaviors including avoidance, transport and removal, cannibalism, and burial. These behaviors are thought to mitigate pathogen and predation risks, influence resource allocation, and shape colony functioning. In this review, we synthesize findings on corpse-directed behaviors across bee species and social systems. We examine the emerging neurobiological, sensory, endocrine, molecular, and social mechanisms that support corpse detection and behavioral specialization. Lastly, we highlight key gaps in existing research and priorities for future work on the neurobiological and evolutionary foundations of corpse-directed behaviors.