Bumblebees are much smarter than we thought

Bumblebees have cognitive abilities at a much higher level than previously thought. They are able to learn certain behaviors just by observing. It turns out that bumblebees, as well as other bees, have many talents not yet known to us.

Researchers at Queen Mary University of London have shown that bumblebees can learn behaviors from which theyórm they would not have to deal with in nature. In earlier experiments, bumblebees were taught to perform tasks które led to obtain food. The experiment involved dropping an insect into a container where there were objects simulating flowers, but they were under glass. Obtaining food was only possible by pulling a string, whichóry was attached to an imitation flower.

By showing bumblebees the entire process of hiding food under a glass, with which theórej protruded only a string, with 291 individualóIn 23 they managed to assimilate the knowledge and thusób to get food. When shown to other bumblebees, które they had not engaged in in an earlier study, the behavior of trained individuals of theów, 15 of 25 insectów was able to complete the task the first time.

However, now the researchers have gone one step further. An earlier experiment showed that bumblebees can learn certain behaviors, but these were tasks related to their natural foraging behavior. Now the researchers have trained the bumblebees to behave with whichóThe insects were shown how to perform a task they would not have a chance to encounter in the wild.

The experiment involved moving a small, ¿óThe ball was placed in the desired location. Of course, after the task was completed, the bumblebee would get a reward in the form of a drop of fresh water. At first, as with the previous experiment, the insects were shown how they should perform the task.

The bumblebees were divided into three groups. One of them observed the ball moving to the target location using a magnet moved under a test board. The second group was immediately rewarded with a ball at the destination. And the third watched the pre-trained insect, whichóry pushed the ball themselves and received a reward.

Bumblebees from the last group were the fastest to acquire knowledge. During the study, the balls were placed in rótion at different distances from the target. The pre-trained bumblebee always chose the farthest ball, as if it had been trained in conditions where the others were unmovable. However, its followers were already choosing the closest ball. For this, the color of the ball was changed, which did not affect the results.

The results of the experiments show that if there is pressure bumblebees can demonstrate advanced learning abilities and can master new behaviors that are unnatural for them. The results also show the incorrectness of the belief that small móbugsów have the ability to learn limited to basic activities and consistent with their natural behavior.