Bees Show Emotion‑Like Behaviour, New Study Reveals

Mon Oct 05 2026 15:57:36 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Australian researchers find evidence of complex feelings in honeybees.

A pioneering study from Macquarie University, in partnership with Southern Medical University, demonstrates that honeybees exhibit behavioural responses akin to emotions, a trait once attributed only to mammals. The research monitored pollen response and pheromone interactions, revealing signs of anxiety and pleasure. These insights challenge our understanding of insect cognition and could reshape welfare standards for pollinators.

Study Finds Bees Behave Emotion‑Like

Recent research conducted by Macquarie University and Southern Medical University in China has uncovered signs that honeybees exhibit behaviour patterns that may mirror emotion‑like responses, previously thought unique to mammals.

The researchers observed bees reacting differently to levels of pollen and scent chemicals, showing anxiety‑like and even pleasure‑like signals during foraging tasks.

These findings open new avenues into the study of animal consciousness, suggesting that even insects may possess a richer inner life than previously assumed.

BBC reporter Lana Lam discusses the implications of this breakthrough and how it might change our perception of insect welfare.