Research indicates bees live richer and more complex lives than previously thought.
For years, the concept of animal cognition and consciousness had many buzzing. Scientists were asking themselves, can animals feel emotions, sense pain, apply reason, display self-awareness? In other words, are animals — sentient?
Scientists now agree nearly all vertebrate species display, in varying degrees, some measure of sentience. Elephants display grief and mourning, grey parrots apply abstract concepts of shape and number, dolphins seek stimulation through play.
Until recently, with the exception of octopus studies, less attention was given to the non-backboned beings of our world and their place along the spectrum of sentience. Now, however, there’s mounting evidence to suggest invertebrates are more complex than previously credited. And there is one kind of invertebrate we may have been underestimating most of all — bees.
Where it was once thought bees respond based on a hard-wired response, recent studies conclude their inner worlds are much richer than once thought — displaying intelligent behavior and sentience. They can count, conceptually identify “sameness” and “difference,” recognize human faces, memorize, solve problems with reason, are aware of their body dimensions, and learn through observation.
The similarities shared between us and bees even extend to something even more unexpected — drugs, including caffeine and nicotine. Bees have been known to drink caffeine-containing nectar as a memory enhancer and will even self-medicate with nicotine when sick.
As more research is conducted, more questions are raised about the welfare of bees, and our responsibility in protecting their rich inner worlds. While strides have been made, there is still a long way to go. That’s why, on WORLD BEE DAY, feel for the bees — donate to those organizations helping keep bees strong.
