Bees Exhibit Liking and Disliking Cues in Taste Tests, Hinting at an Inner Life
TL;DR
Researchers filmed bumblebees tasting droplets (60% sugar, 20% sugar, water, 5% salt, 1 mM quinine) and observed post‑consumption licking after sweet solutions, versus mouth‑wiping or head shaking for salty or bitter ones. The responses are read as potential “liking” and “disliking” cues—similar to mammals—suggesting an inner state in bees. Effects varied with context (e.g., heat stress, fullness, or drug exposure) across 18 colonies, and the study, published in PNAS, fuels ongoing debate about insect sentience.
- Do bees have inner lives? Slow-motion video reveals bumblebee behaviour similar to ‘liking’ or ‘disliking’ The Guardian
- Bumblebee facial movements give clues to their inner lives New Scientist
- Bees reveal emotion-like reactions, from 'lip licking' to head shaking, in new videos Phys.org
- Bumblebees shake their heads if they do not like food The Telegraph
- Bees ‘facial expressions’ may be a sign of their inner lives The Conversation
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