Bumblebees are known to be highly intelligent, capable of doing simple maths, and distinguishing human faces. Now, a series of experiments has suggested that they may also have a level of conscious awareness, or sentience. In one, bees were exposed to a simulated spider attack when they landed on a flower. After that, “their whole demeanour changed”, says Lars Chittka, professor of sensory and behavioural ecology at Queen Mary University of London. “They became, overall, very hesitant to land on flowers, and inspected every one extensively before deciding to land on it.” By contrast, when they were given a treat, their foraging became more optimistic: they’d be more willing to investigate ambiguous flowers. In another study, the bees were given the choice between feeding from a cool dispenser, or one…
