It turns out that bees love not only to work, but also to play.
In one experiment, researchers gave 45 woodpeckers unimpeded access to food and another space containing wood pellets. Some of the bees moved the small wooden balls 117 times during the experiment. The repeated listings suggest that this behavior was worth the effort.
During the experiment, younger dongos began rolling more wooden balls than their older counterparts, indicating a tendency to play at an early age that can be observed in humans and other mammals as well as birds. But testicles also play with wooden balls longer than their working counterparts.
In another experiment, 42 other rats were provided with two differently colored rooms. In one of them, bumblebees could also play with moving balls, while the other was empty.
In the later stages of the experiment, it was revealed that the dongo preferred the color of the room where they could play with the moving balls.
Experience showed that the dongo did not move the balls with a higher purpose, since they did not receive any reward for this. So rolling the wooden ball can’t be part of their survival strategy. The behavior was voluntary and spontaneous, i.e. similar to play as can be observed in other animals.
In other, earlier experiments, rats were taught to aim balls at a target with a reward. In the experiments described above, however, no such reward occurred.
“It was cool, sometimes fun, to see the dongos play, get up close and then move these balls around. It was clear that despite their small stature and small brain size, they are not just robots,” says Smadi Galpage, a researcher at Queen Mary University. in London, on his experiences.
“Bumblebees can indeed experience positive emotional states, even if they are rudimentary. This realization should have an impact on our understanding of animals’ emotions and may encourage us to view animals with more respect and protect them more and more.”
“This research shows that insects are capable of much more than previously thought. Many animals play just for fun. Most examples of this are among small mammals or birds,” adds Professor Lars Schitka, also a researcher at the university. We thought of them, that is, they would be insensitive and soulless creatures.”
Fun photos and videos of the experiment can be seen here: click here.
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