The Vespiqueen post interested me, how on earth do pokeballs differentiate between pokemon? Between members of the same species?

DNA locks, actually. When a poké ball activates on a pokémon for the first time, it scans its capture in order to take careful notes about what it’s containing. This—combined with a pokémon’s decision to either stay or break free, of course—is why there’s a window of time between the ball drawing in a pokémon and the capture being confirmed, wherein the ball could, well, break. It’s simply taking the time to scan and record the genetic code of the pokémon it’s meant to contain.

This all is relevant because even if you have two members of the same species, there are subtle differences in the genetic code of one individual compared to the next. After all, you might not be like any other human in the world, and so, too, each pokémon is different and individual from the rest of its species.

Vespiquen is an interesting case because it forms a symbiotic relationship with another living being. (Actually, slowbro/king and mantine are very similar in nature—it’s just that they share existences with other pokémon, rather than animals.) In her case, though, the point still stands. It’s just that the poké ball scans and records all beings drawn in, rather than just one.

Of course, it gets a little more complicated with evolution, particularly ones that involve multiple members of the same species to achieve (magneton and metang, for a couple of examples). In these cases, though, so long as a considerable amount of the subject’s DNA is present and so long as the subject’s species matches the pokédex database in terms of pokémon that incorporate others into their evolutions, the poké ball will still recognize the pokémon it belongs to. It would then modify its internal code in order to adjust.

Truth be told, modern poké balls seem like they’re simple devices, but they’re actually highly complex and fascinating machines. Of course, I also say that this is all true for modern poké balls. Antique poké balls, particularly of the apricorn variety, are a bit more mysterious, and the art of creating them is a carefully guarded secret.

Hello, I have a vespiqueen, and I’m curious about the tiny bees she uses when using the move heal order, defend order, and attack order, are they pokemon or a part of her?

Believe it or not, those are an actual, literal species of bee (as in, the animal) called the grub bee—so named because it was often misidentified as grubs thanks to how pale they are and how they tend to wriggle about within the vespiquen hive. Yes, these are actually perfectly ordinary animals. Why they react to poké balls as if they’re a part of their host vespiquen is actually a mystery that scientists are eager to solve, if only because that would mean fascinating things for Kingdom Animalia as a whole. (Can other animals enter poké balls if they form symbiotic relationships with pokémon? Can humans? I, for one, would love to know the answer to the latter especially. After all, who wouldn’t want to know what it’s like inside a poké ball?)

To put it in short, vespiquen forms a symbiotic relationship with grub bees. In exchange for serving as a living hive (and also protection from birds of both the pokémon and animal variety, as well as a food source to ensure that the grub bee never leaves), the grub bees defend vespiquen on command or use their royal jelly to heal her. Usually, this relationship will begin shortly after evolution, so if you’ve noticed your vespiquen flying low to the ground, you now likely know why: because she was attempting to attract a grub bee queen. Once she finds one, this relationship lasts essentially for life, with new queens replacing the old every year. So in a sense, if you train a vespiquen, you’re not simply training one pokémon but a whole hive, which is really quite remarkable.

Hey there Bill, I’ve been working with my Vespiquen for most of the day these days since I don’t have classes. I’ve gotten used to having Combees surrounding us, but I’m still confused as to why they follow me around and treat me similarly even when she’s in her ball. Can you help illuminate that?

Not to be disturbing, anonymous, but you’re likely covered with her pheromones. As such, the combee see you as, well, part of her or a valued member of her court, and thus, they treat you with the same respect as her. A few good showers and a load of laundry should fix the problem, should you wish to do so.