Compared to large-brained animals, not much is expected from bumblebees. However, recent laboratory experiments published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B show that they should not be underestimated.
We have recently concretely analyzed the possibility that animals have a conscience. Now, in a series of laboratory experiments, bumblebees that trained together on tasks to retrieve a sugar reward had more likely to wait for their partner before returning to the task compared to bees who trained alone. These are amazing results!
“The study’s findings challenge conventional notions about insects and their ability to work together towards a common goal it is also present in the miniature brain of bumblebees“says Olli Loukola, lead author of the study and a behavioral ecologist at the University of Oulu in Finland.
Cooperation is an aspect of social behavior that shows awareness and collaboration with other individuals. Very often chimpanzees, dolphins and birds have been seen working together towards a shared goal, but no one (until now) would have ever thought of bumblebees.
In particular, as you can see in the video at the following link, Loukola and colleagues discovered that in various experiments, insects they were waiting for the arrival of a companion before proceeding on paths that led to a reward.
“These results show that bumblebees’ cooperative behavior is not simply a byproduct of individual efforts but is socially influenced. However, find out if bumblebees truly understand the role of their partner will require further research with more detailed monitoring of their behavior during cooperation” the researchers write in their article. But how to put these future studies into practice?
After understanding the absurd things that bumblebees can do, in the future we could adopt the same technique used with dolphins. So it could require bees to synchronize when they press a button, to get a reward.
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