Do bees have inner lives? Slow-motion video reveals bumblebee behaviour similar to ‘liking’ or ‘disliking’
Summary
Scientists recorded slow-motion videos showing bumblebees react to different tastes. The bees displayed behaviors similar to "liking" or "disliking," such as licking their tongues longer after tasting sweet solutions and shaking their heads after tasting bitter ones.Key Facts
- Bumblebees use their tongues (glossa) to show positive or negative reactions to tastes.
- Researchers presented bees with sugar water, plain water, salt, and quinine to observe their responses.
- Bees licked longer after sweet tastes and showed distaste by shaking or wiping their mouths after bad tastes.
- The study was done by Macquarie University and Southern Medical University in China.
- Bees’ reactions changed depending on context, like when they were heat-stressed, similar to how humans find electrolyte drinks more appealing after exercise.
- This research suggests bees may have simple inner experiences, a concept previously controversial for insects.
- Scientists study animal facial expressions to understand feelings since animals cannot speak.
- The findings were published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
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