Bumblebees stick out their tongues after a sweet treat and shake their heads or wipe their mouths after something unpleasant. Scientists in the United Kingdom captured these miniature facial expressions on slow-motion video and say the behavior matches the "liking" and "disliking" responses seen in mammals.
A tiny tongue and a head shake
Researchers filmed bumblebees as they tasted sugary solutions or plain water. When the bees encountered something good, they extended their glossa, or insect tongue, for a moment afterward. It looked almost like they were licking their lips. When they tasted something they did not like, the bees shook their heads and wiped their mouths with their front legs.
The team published their findings in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The study was led by researchers at Queen Mary University of London in the United Kingdom. They used high-speed cameras to capture the subtle movements that are too fast for the human eye to see.
What the expressions mean
The scientists say these facial expressions are consistent with emotional-like states. In mammals, similar expressions signal pleasure or disgust. The bees showed the tongue-reaching response more often when they tasted a sweet, rewarding solution. They shook their heads and wiped their mouths more frequently when they tasted plain water or a bitter substance.
The study adds to a growing body of evidence that insects may have inner lives. The researchers argue that the behavior is not just a reflex. It changes based on context, which suggests the bees are evaluating what they taste.
Why this matters locally and globally
In the United Kingdom, where bee populations have faced pressures from habitat loss and pesticides, the study has drawn attention from scientists and conservationists. If bees can experience positive and negative states, it raises questions about how humans treat insects. The research does not prove that bees feel pain or pleasure in the same way humans do, but it shows that their facial expressions are not random.
The study provides support for the idea of insect sentience. That concept could influence future regulations on farming, pest control, and research involving insects. For now, the scientists say the findings open a window into the emotional lives of creatures that people often overlook.
