Brainy bees are ‘smart cookies’

London - Bees are much brainier than we think.

Separate studies show that, far from being pollen-gathering machines, bees are – like humans – controlled by their own desires.

Researchers argue that consciousness in humans comes from a structure called the mid-brain, which brings together external experiences – from our senses – with inner experiences.

They say insects, while they have very different brains, have a similar structure. Writing in the journal PNAS, scientists from Macquarie University in Sydney say flying and gathering pollen is so complex it requires consciousness to deal with it: ‘The systems that underlie these abilities were shaped by evolutionary pressures similar to those that shaped the mammalian midbrain.’

A separate study, published in the Journal of Insect Behavior, shows how bumblebees use their buzzing to vibrate flowers to extract pollen – and learn to improve their technique.

Over time, says the study, the bees focus their efforts and tune down the vibrations, removing as much pollen as they need while potentially saving energy.

Daily Mail