Bees Exhibit Liking and Disliking Cues in Taste Tests, Hinting at an Inner Life
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.