Description
Bumblebees can puzzle out how to use a ball like a ladder to reach a “flower” for a sugary treat. In one set of experiments, bumblebees maneuvered a ball into a shallow pit underneath a blue ring that it has learned to associate with food. By standing on top of the ball, the insect can then access the snack. In an another experiment, researchers constructed separate rooms inside an arena to figure out if bumblebees were using visual cues or if they were working toward a goal. The bees first explored the space. After finding the fake flower, bumblebees went back for the ball and used it as a tool to reach the food, suggesting the insects had a goal in mind.
Video credits: Olli Loukola
Read the full article: www.sciencenews.org/article/bumblebees-problem-solving-spontaneous
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