Bumblebees Solve Puzzles, Showing Cognitive Skills Like Large Mammals

A study in *Science* placed bumblebees in a small plexiglass arena where flight was impossible. Bees had to roll a foam ball to reach a blue ring that signaled a sugary reward. The insects quickly learned to treat the ball as a movable object and used it to solve the task without prior training.

Upworthy

Earlier work showed bumblebees can count, detect rhythm, and enjoy rolling balls—a behavior described as play in a 2022 *Animal Behaviour* paper. The new experiment extends these findings by demonstrating spontaneous, goal-directed problem solving, a capability not previously recorded in any invertebrate.

Upworthy

The study was led by Olli Loukola and Akshaye Bhambore at the University of Oulu, Finland, with results shared through NPR, ScienceNews, and Refractor.

Upworthy

In the initial task, 75 % of bees rolled the ball to the blue ring. In a multi-step task they located a hidden flower, moved the ball around a barrier and passed through an opening; 80 % succeeded. Each bee’s brain is about the size of a sesame seed, yet performance matched that of chimpanzees, birds, or elephants. The enclosure was small enough that the blue ring on the ceiling was unreachable, forcing the insects to roll the ball on the floor.

Upworthy

Bumblebees pollinate up to 95 % of flowering plants. Flexible problem solving may help colonies locate food as habitats change, a vital advantage for at-risk populations. Insects comprise roughly 80 % of known species, underscoring the relevance of understanding their cognition.

Upworthy

Loukola said experiment was difficult, requiring bees to grasp the task before solving it. Bhambore noted the behavior was novel because the insects had never been trained to roll the ball, and that successful individuals showed directed movement. Scientists stressed that the results highlight a need for further research into insect cognition, emphasizing that the abilities do not equate bee cognition with human brain function.

Upworthy

• “Spontaneous problem-solving is something that has never been shown in any invertebrate before.” — Olli Loukola, researcher, University of Oulu

Upworthy

• “I planned the experiment so that it’s challenging for the bees.” — Olli Loukola, researcher, University of Oulu

Upworthy

• “What makes this behavior especially remarkable is that the bees had never been trained to roll the ball.” — Akshaye Bhambore, lead author, University of Oulu

Upworthy

• “This was a completely new challenge. Their behavior appeared goal-directed, with successful individuals showing more directed movement patterns.” — Akshaye Bhambore, lead author, University of Oulu

Upworthy

Researchers indicate that additional experiments are required to map the limits of bumblebee cognition and to determine how problem-solving influences pollination efficiency under shifting environmental conditions.

Upworthy