Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A February 2001 PMID 11172007

Monophyly and extensive extinction of advanced eusocial bees: insights from an unexpected Eocene diversity.

M S Engel

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Mentions

22
Peak: 10 in Aug 2024
across 2 sources since Mar 2023

Extended reach

9,258,184
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Total likes

82,688

Video views

9,102,518

Mentions per month

Mar 2023 – Oct 2025

Where it's discussed

  • X / Twitter20 posts
  • YouTube2 videos

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The discussions reflect a fascination with bee biology and evolution, with examples like posts questioning the absence of king bees and comments noting the surprising diversity of extinct eusocial bees, which indicate curiosity and moderate engagement rather than strong agreement or disagreement.

AgreementNeither agree nor disagree

Posts show mixed reactions, with some expressing curiosity or amusement rather than outright agreement or disagreement with the publication.

InterestHigh interest

Most discussions indicate a high level of curiosity and fascination with bee evolution, especially in threads about bee genetics and social structures.

EngagementModerate engagement

Some comments delve into specifics, such as questions about the genetic basis of social behavior, showing moderate but not deep engagement.

ImpactNeutral impact

While some discussions highlight the significance of bee evolution, overall, the posts suggest moderate impact, mainly generating curiosity rather than sparking critical debate.

Abstract in brief

  • The study of fossilized bees in Baltic amber shows that advanced eusocial bees were much more diverse around 45 million years ago during the Eocene period, which was previously unexpected.
  • Advanced eusociality in bees developed only once, but after the Eocene, many of these lineages went extinct, leaving only two main tribes today that make up less than 2% of all bee species.
  • This decline challenges the idea that eusocial behavior necessarily leads to long-term evolutionary success in insects, similar to patterns seen in human evolution.]

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
MinuteEarth (also on BlueSky)
@MinuteEarth · X

The Queen bee rules the hive - but why do we never see a King bee? Bee genetics are bee-zarre and don’t allow for a King to exist (good for her) More in our latest video: https://t.co/yngU5Z2Jb1 https://t.co/VBhsApxrYH

Aug 8, 2024 · 8 likes · 1 share · 55,251 followers View post →
MinuteEarth (also on BlueSky)
@MinuteEarth · X

The Queen Bee rules the hive. But why is there no King? More about Bee monarchies in our video: https://t.co/66E6TKXNnx https://t.co/WH19CUjk05

Aug 16, 2024 · 4 likes · 1 share · 55,251 followers View post →
Alvaro
@AlvZOnlyCNXN · X

Alguien sabe como puedo replicar/hacer este tipo de videos? https://t.co/IAQQ1fAeZ0

Mar 22, 2025 · 3 likes · 698 followers View post →
Minuto da Terra
@MinutoDaTerra · X

Vem dar asinhas pra imaginação no nosso novo vídeo e conhecer um pouco mais sobre a genética beezarra das abelhas! https://t.co/2m3JLMxk9t

Dec 4, 2024 · 2 likes · 1 share · 2,995 followers View post →
Jay
@Jay52_TX · X

Why There Are No King Bees || #YouTube #Video #Insects https://t.co/6cOJgGK0Cr

Jun 21, 2025 · 1 like · 1 share · 9,464 followers View post →
Commandante Pangolin Hugger
@FriedrichFiles · X

We will have Grapes ✔ We will have Bee friends ✔ https://t.co/LOoaWgm04r M.S. Engel "Monophyly and extensive extinction of advanced eusocial bees: insights from an unexpected Eocene diversity." https://t.co/9doHpxy8Ks

Jul 28, 2025 · 1 like · 1,895 followers View post →

All mentions

Commandante Pangolin Hugger
@FriedrichFiles · X

✋ don't start with the bees ♡ that's different story M.S. Engel "Monophyly and extensive extinction of advanced eusocial bees: insights from an unexpected Eocene diversity." https://t.co/z4unYnPHuV

Oct 13, 2025 · 1,895 followers View post →
Wolfsinn
@DeadShuck · X

@AkittiBit @davedecimation https://t.co/dv8VUJo9XY

Sep 18, 2025 · 1 like · 305 followers View post →
Douglas de Albuquerque
@DouglasdeA82553 · X

https://t.co/cob4MHUfSH

Aug 11, 2025 · 28 followers View post →
Commandante Pangolin Hugger
@FriedrichFiles · X

We will have Grapes ✔ We will have Bee friends ✔ https://t.co/LOoaWgm04r M.S. Engel "Monophyly and extensive extinction of advanced eusocial bees: insights from an unexpected Eocene diversity." https://t.co/9doHpxy8Ks

Jul 28, 2025 · 1 like · 1,895 followers View post →
Kelly Ciallo
@KCiallo10032 · X

@FondOfBeetles Bees are so fucking cool! I dont know why he would want to bring up male bees tho considering what happens to the males lmaoo https://t.co/wzfN3rZOiA

Jul 16, 2025 · 40 followers View post →
Jay
@Jay52_TX · X

Why There Are No King Bees || #YouTube #Video #Insects https://t.co/6cOJgGK0Cr

Jun 21, 2025 · 1 like · 1 share · 9,464 followers View post →
Alvaro
@AlvZOnlyCNXN · X

Alguien sabe como puedo replicar/hacer este tipo de videos? https://t.co/IAQQ1fAeZ0

Mar 22, 2025 · 3 likes · 698 followers View post →
Hiei_stan
@Hiei_stan · X

RT @MinutoDaTerra: Vem dar asinhas pra imaginação no nosso novo vídeo e conhecer um pouco mais sobre a genética beezarra das abelhas! http…

Dec 4, 2024 · 1 share · 284 followers View post →
Minuto da Terra
@MinutoDaTerra · X

Vem dar asinhas pra imaginação no nosso novo vídeo e conhecer um pouco mais sobre a genética beezarra das abelhas! https://t.co/2m3JLMxk9t

Dec 4, 2024 · 2 likes · 1 share · 2,995 followers View post →
Stephanie
@stephmostdef · X

https://t.co/Tr4NfTYOxN

Sep 21, 2024 · 209 followers View post →
Kirby David Wagner
@KirbyDWagner · X

Why There Are No King Bees https://t.co/kdweHkCNX6 via @YouTube Weird?

Aug 18, 2024 · 168 followers View post →
Jay
@Jay52_TX · X

Can Male #Bees Run A Colony? Here's Why Nature Would Explode If They Tried -- For starters, the lack of genetic diversity would lead to catastrophic inbreeding || #YouTube #Video #Nature https://t.co/keoy1FBmMh

Aug 17, 2024 · 9,464 followers View post →
Ali Waqqaf
@falcon9b5 · X

RT @MinuteEarth: The Queen Bee rules the hive. But why is there no King? More about Bee monarchies in our video: https://t.co/66E6TKXNnx…

Aug 16, 2024 · 1 share · 230 followers View post →
MinuteEarth (also on BlueSky)
@MinuteEarth · X

The Queen Bee rules the hive. But why is there no King? More about Bee monarchies in our video: https://t.co/66E6TKXNnx https://t.co/WH19CUjk05

Aug 16, 2024 · 4 likes · 1 share · 55,251 followers View post →
Pratus Ansiursus (Βραδ Όσβορν)
@PratusAnsiursus · X

why Jay-Z has a low body count https://t.co/mNZuZpRtw1

Aug 10, 2024 · 203 followers View post →
Hunny
@SunnyBee42069 · X

Why There Are No King Bees https://t.co/DBI7ZuzDA4 via @YouTube

Aug 8, 2024 · 1,151 followers View post →
Isturas Leuvînas
@SAyassyR · X

RT @MinuteEarth: The Queen bee rules the hive - but why do we never see a King bee? Bee genetics are bee-zarre and don’t allow for a King…

Aug 8, 2024 · 1 share · 489 followers View post →
MinuteEarth (also on BlueSky)
@MinuteEarth · X

The Queen bee rules the hive - but why do we never see a King bee? Bee genetics are bee-zarre and don’t allow for a King to exist (good for her) More in our latest video: https://t.co/yngU5Z2Jb1 https://t.co/VBhsApxrYH

Aug 8, 2024 · 8 likes · 1 share · 55,251 followers View post →
JS
@pretoriadurbanj · X

MinuteEarth Why There Are No King Bees https://t.co/BSlaH2pDC8

Aug 7, 2024 · 5 followers View post →
قبل الاسلام كنت مستشرقة سويدية مدربة منذ الطفولة
@Catricher1995 · X

10 March 2009. 3. Poinar GO, Danforth BN (October 2006). "A fossil bee from Early Cretaceous Burmese amber". Science 314 (5799): 614. 4. Engel, Michael S. (2001-02-13). "Monophyly and Extensive Extinction of Advanced Eusocial Bees: Insights from an Unexpected Eocene Diversity".

Mar 18, 2023 · 15,628 followers View post →