Bumblebees can solve complex puzzles through teamwork. Bees are here to show us that brains come in all sizes! A fascinating new study from Queen Mary University of London has revealed that bumblebees are far more sophisticated than we ever thought.
Published in “Nature”, scientists designed a two-step puzzle box with a sweet reward hidden inside. To access the treat, the bees had to figure out two tricky tasks in the right sequence. While individual bees couldn’t solve the puzzle independently, those who watched a “demonstrator” bee crack the code quickly learned the entire sequence, even when there was no immediate reward for completing the first step.
Why is this so amazing?
The discovery challenges the idea that advanced social learning is a human-only trait. This hints at a “cumulative culture,” where bumblebees can pass on knowledge and skills. Cumulative culture is the process where knowledge builds up over generations, leading to increasingly complex behaviours, similar to how human technology has evolved.
Dr. Alice Bridgers who led the study, was astonished by the bees’ abilities: “It was an extremely difficult task for the bees. They had to learn two steps to get the reward, with the first behaviour in the sequence being unrewarded. Yet, they managed to learn the whole sequence just by watching other bees.”
So next time you see a bumblebee buzzing by, remember they’re not just gathering nectar – they’re solving puzzles and sharing their smarts with their friends. 🐝🧠✨
Read the full study here
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