When tested, bees have proven time and time again that they have much more to offer than just pollinatemake honey and be fiercely loyal to a queen.
The industrious insects can count and alter their behavior when things seem difficult, and now some scientists say there is evidence that they like to play too.
A study recently published in Animal Behavior suggests that bees, when given the opportunity, they like to play with toys.
Researchers at Queen Mary University of London conducted an experiment in which they set up a container that allowed bees to travel from their nest to a feeding area. But along the way, the bees might choose to pass through a separate section with a handful of small wooden balls.
For 18 days, the scientists observed how the bees “they strove to roll wooden balls repeatedlyeven though they apparently had no incentive to do so.”
The finding suggests that, like humans, insects also interact with inanimate objects as a form of play.. Also, similar to people, the younger bees seemed to be more playful than the adult bees.
“This research provides a strong indication that insect minds are far more sophisticated than we might imagine.”said Lars Chittka, professor of sensory and behavioral ecology at Queen Mary University of London, who led the study, in a statement.
Previous studies
Previous studies have shown that insects are willing to learn new tricks in exchange for food or other rewards, so in this case Chittka and her team set out to create conditions that would eliminate external variables. They made sure the bees had acclimated to their new home and that their environment was stress-free.
In one experiment, bees, which were tracked for age and sex, they were able to fight their way through an unobstructed path to a feeding area or opt for a detour into a chamber with wooden balls. Many took the detour.
The video shows the insects clinging to the balls (about twice the size of the bees) and maneuvering them. In more comedic moments, some bees appeared to do somersaults while holding on. Other times they would walk backwards, dragging the ball with them, an unnatural move for bumblebees.
“There are many animals that play just for fun, but most examples come from young mammals and birds.”Chittka said.