Bumblebees were able to learn.
Scientists said that, despite the small size of the brain that bees exhibit complex social behavior and logic.
The findings of scientists was published in the journal PLOS Biology.
In the study, researchers conducted experiments with ground bees. Insects were offered three plastic “flower” in the center of which was placed a solution of sucrose. At the same time, “flowers” was located behind a transparent partition and was not directly accessible to the bees. A special cord allowed the bees to pull out the “flowers” outside. First, “flowers” was freely available, but scientists are gradually further and further hid them under glass until the only way to get to sugar was not the only one to “pull the rope”.
According to the researchers, of the 40 experimental bees with the task were able to cope 23. The researchers then placed the untrained bees so that they could observe the actions of other dogs who dug the delicacy due to transparent partitions.
Over 60% of them quickly adopted the new skill and, in turn, were able to extract sugar without any training, directly from a fully closed “flower.”
As shown by the video, the insects accurately copy the actions of “teachers”. Finally, the researchers placed the trained bees in the colony, showing that a new skill is easy to apply – as a cultural phenomenon.
