Bumble bees have demonstrated an ability to solve a novel object manipulation task without any specific training, according to a study published in June. The findings come from researchers at Finnish universities and challenge previous assumptions about problem-solving in insects.
Researchers from the University of Oulu, the University of Helsinki, and the University of Turku tested bumble bees (Bombus terrestris) in a transparent arena. The bees had learned that a blue artificial flower held a reward, but the flower was then placed out of reach on the ceiling. Several bees rolled a small ball beneath the flower and climbed onto it to access the reward.
Senior author Olli Loukola described the task as an insect version of the classic box-and-banana problem. Lead author Akshaye Bhambore noted that the bees had never been trained to roll the ball and showed goal-directed behavior. Control experiments ruled out accidental success, play, or simple visual guidance.
Co-author Ece Nur Akmeşe said watching the bees perform the sequence was fascinating. The study, titled "Spontaneous problem-solving in bumble bees," was published on June 4, 2026, in the journal Science. The authors emphasize that the results do not imply bees think like humans.