She ain't heavy, she's my sister
Well, OK, half sister 😉.
And, before I go any further, apologies to The Hollies for the butchered lyrics I've used as the title of this post. While writing, I'm aware that the title is an important consideration in attracting readers … but I'm also easily swayed by cheap gags, poor puns, and clever wordplay. This one isn't particularly clever (or anything else), but it is appropriate, as I'm going discuss to worker flights and load-carrying.
Foragers are the packhorses of the colony.
They— literally — do the heavy lifting … spending the day collecting pollen, nectar, water, or tree resins from the environment, and carrying them back to the nest.
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It's a tough life, and foragers have a remarkably short lifespan.