Do bumblebees play football just for fun?
Do bumble bees play?
Bumblebees given tiny wooden balls rolled them around over and over, with no reward, apparently just for fun.
Researchers in London gave bumblebees an arena with a clear path to food and, off to the side, a scattering of tiny wooden balls. Nothing happened when a bee rolled a ball, so there was no practical reason to do it.
The bees rolled them anyway, again and again, and the younger bees rolled them most. By the scientists’ careful checklist, this looks a lot like play: bumblebee football, no referee required.
Bees: busy, yes, but also making time for a kickabout.