Never Before Seen: Insects Playing | Secrets of the Bees | National Geographic

Sammy visited Queen Mary University of London to observe a breakthrough in understanding bee intelligence at the Bumblebee lab. Dr. Alice Bridges demonstrated an experiment where bumblebees in a chamber could choose between food and playing with wooden balls. Despite bees being reward-driven and typically seeking food, some chose to play, which surprised the scientific community. This study is extraordinary as it's the first time play has been demonstrated in insects. Play is often seen as a way to practice skills needed in life. For bumblebees, which interact with many flower types, this play might be a method to refine those skills before leaving the hive.