When put to the test, bees have proved over and over again that they've got a lot more to offer than making honey and now some scientists say there's proof that they also like to play. A study recently published in Animal Behavior suggests that bumblebees, when given the chance, like to fool around with toys.
Researchers from Queen Mary University of London conducted an experiment in which they set up a container that allowed bees to travel from their nest to a feeding area. But along the way, the bees could choose to pass through a separate section with several small wooden balls. Over 18 days, the scientists watched as the bees "went out of their way to roll wooden balls repeatedly, though there seems to be no apparent cause to drive them to do so."
The finding suggests that like humans, insects also interact with inanimate (无生命的) objects as a form of play. Also similar to people, younger bees seemed to be more playful than adult bees. "Previous research has shown that there are lots of animals who play just for the purpose of enjoyment, but most examples come from young mammals and birds. This study provides a strong indication that insect minds are far more advanced than we might imagine," Lars Chittka, who led the study, said.
The study's first author, Samadi Galpayage, who is a PhD student at Queen Mary University, added that it is the evidence that insects may be able to experience feelings. "They can actually experience some kind of positive emotional states, even if basic, like other larger fluffy (覆有绒毛的) animals do. This sort of finding has led to our understanding of insects and will, hopefully, encourage us to respect and protect life on earth ever more," she said in the statement.
