Do bees have inner lives? Slow-motion video reveals bumblebee behaviour similar to ‘liking’ or ‘disliking’

According to The Guardian World, researchers using slow-motion video have documented behavior in bumblebees that resembles emotional responses. When the insects encounter something palatable, they extend their tongues and hold them out—much like how mammals might lick their lips in satisfaction. When they taste something unpleasant, they shake their heads and wipe their mouths. The findings, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, suggest bumblebees may possess preference responses similar to emotions observed in larger animals, potentially supporting theories of insect sentience and inner life.

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