Prado A. auteur aut IRD Requier Fabrice auteur aut IRD Crauser D. auteur aut IRD Le Conte Y. auteur aut IRD Bretagnolle V. auteur aut IRD Alaux C. auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng text/pdf reformatted digital access Assessing the various anthropogenic pressures imposed on honeybees requires characterizing the patterns and drivers ofnatural mortality. Using automated lifelong individual monitoring devices, we monitored worker bees in different geographical, seasonal and colony contexts creating a broad range of hive conditions. We measured their life-history traits and notably assessed whether lifespan is influenced by pre-foraging flight experience. Our results show that the age at the first flight and onset of foraging are critical factors that determine, to a large extent, lifespan. Most importantly, our results indicate that a large proportion (40%) of the bees dieduring pre-foraging stage, and for those surviving, the elapsed time and flight experience between the first flight and the onset of foraging is of paramount importance to maximize the number of days spent foraging. Once in the foraging stage, individuals experience a constant mortality risk of 9% and 36% per hour of foraging and per foraging day, respectively. In conclusion, the pre-foraging stage during which bees performorientation flights is a critical driver of bee lifespan. We believe these data on the natural mortality risks in honeybee workerswill help assess the impact of anthropogenic pressures on bees. specialized FRANCE 080ZOOGEN04 021ENVECO 7 11 e200998 [13 ] 2020 2054-5703 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010080710 10.1098/rsos.200998 2054-5703 [F B010080710] https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010080710 https://horizon.documentation.ird.fr/exl-doc/pleins_textes/divers20-12/010080710.pdf IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 2020-12-10 2025-02-24 fdi:010080710 fre