Cyclic thermal stress during pupation triggers irreversible carry-over effects in a key pollinator.

Cyclic thermal stress during pupation causes up to 30% pupal mortality and halves adult longevity in Bombus terrestris, threatening pollinator resilience.

• Why it matters: Understanding sublethal developmental effects of heat stress is crucial as climate change increases extreme heatwaves, impacting vital pollinator populations and ecosystem stability.
• What they did: Researchers exposed Bombus terrestris pupae to cyclic thermal stress in vitro, measuring emergence success, adult lifespan, and morphological traits across 30% mortality and longevity outcomes.
• The result: Thermal stress caused irreversible developmental damage, notably reducing adult lifespan and increasing morphological deformities, which serve as indicators of compromised physiological resilience.