A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Toronto has revealed one of the most astonishing animal behavior traits yet discovered. It turns out that bumblebees have the ability to make complex and sophisticated decisions – far beyond what was previously thought possible. The study, published in the journal Science, found that bees can accurately assess a range of scenarios and choose the optimal solution, displaying a level of intelligence that rivals that of primates.

The researchers set up a series of experiments to test the decision-making abilities of bees. In each experiment, the bee was presented with two options – one that offered a smaller reward but was guaranteed, and one that offered a larger reward but had a higher risk of failure. Amazingly, the bees could accurately assess the risk and reward levels of each option and reliably choose the best one.

This new discovery provides further evidence of the incredible intelligence of bumblebees. In addition to their well-known ability to navigate and remember complex paths, bumblebees can now add sophisticated decision-making to their impressive list of skills.

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source: Phys.org