This blog may help people explore some of the 'hidden' issues involved in certain media treatments of environmental and scientific issues. Using personal digital images, it's also intended to emphasise seasonal (and other) changes in natural history of the Swansea (South Wales) area. The material should help participants in field-based modules and people generally interested in the natural world. The views are wholly those of the author.
Monday 18 July 2022
I Think, Therefore I Bee?
Bees have the ability to count and can be trained to recognize human faces. It seems, however, a quantum leap to consequently view them as sentient beings (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jul/16/bees-are-really-highly-intelligent-the-insect-iq-tests-causing-a-buzz-among-scientists). Lars Chittka (Queen Mary University of London) suggests, on the basis of his laboratory tests, that bees have emotions, can plan and imagine things and recognise themselves as unique entities distinct from other bees. The tests are reported as confirming the 'intelligence' of bees. Bees can be 'trained' to distinguish a monochrome image of a human face associated with a sugar solution reward from one that isn't. This isn't, however, a million miles from bees (and other pollinating insects) using 'honey-guides' on flowers to reach nectaries.'Counting' by bees may also involve rather automatic, pre-programmed responses. For example, Honey bees return to the hive, when they reach a particular weight from loaded nectar and pollen. This process extends their functional life. Bees are clearly fascinating and important pollinators. It appears, however, highly unlikely that individual female worker bees have the equipment (a complex brain) to develop self-awareness. Self-awareness is also unlikely to of any benefit to, what's afterall, a social insect.
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