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Bumblebees socially learn behaviour too complex to innovate alone

Biology

Bumblebees socially learn behaviour too complex to innovate alone

A. D. Bridges, A. Royka, et al.

Discover how bumblebees can acquire the skill to solve a challenging two-step puzzle-box task through social learning from trained peers, even without prior knowledge of the solution. This groundbreaking research, conducted by Alice D. Bridges, Amanda Royka, Tara Wilson, Charlotte Lockwood, Jasmin Richter, Mikko Juusola, and Lars Chittka, reshapes our understanding of social learning beyond human capabilities.

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Playback language: English
Abstract
This study demonstrates that bumblebees can learn a complex two-step puzzle-box task through social learning from trained demonstrators, even though they cannot independently solve the task. Naive observer bees learned to open the box by observing demonstrators, despite the first step being unrewarded. This challenges the notion that the capacity for socially learning behaviors too complex for individual innovation is unique to humans.
Publisher
Nature
Published On
Mar 06, 2024
Authors
Alice D. Bridges, Amanda Royka, Tara Wilson, Charlotte Lockwood, Jasmin Richter, Mikko Juusola, Lars Chittka
Tags
bumblebees
social learning
puzzle-box
behavioral science
innovation
demonstrators
naive observer

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