Did you know that Bees might have emotions?

Entomologist Skepton Buchmann writes about “What A Bee Knows” (Ils and Press £24) suggesting that they might get frustrated, feel fear and like to play.

STEPHEN BUCHMANN, is a pollination ecologist specializing in bees, and an adjunct professor with the departments of Entomology and of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Arizona.

For many of us, the buzzing of a bee elicits panic. But the next time you hear that low droning sound, look closer: the bee has navigated to this particular spot for a reason using a fascinating set of tools. She may be using her sensitive olfactory organs, which provide a 3D scent map of her surroundings. She may be following visual landmarks or instructions relayed by a hive-mate. She may even be tracking an electrostatic path left by other bees.

His ideas are part of a growing body of research that could change the way we think about the natural world for ever.