September 2015 PMID 26423070

Colour learning when foraging for nectar and pollen: bees learn two colours at once.

Felicity Muth, Daniel R Papaj, Anne S Leonard

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Mentions

Peak: 6 in Apr 2024

across 5 sources since May 2022

Extended reach

2,467,151

potential audience

Total likes

105,236

Video views

2,454,108

Mentions per month

May 2022 – Oct 2025

Where it's discussed

Bluesky18 posts
X / Twitter3 posts
YouTube2 videos
News2 articles
Blogs2 articles

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The discussions demonstrate high interest through enthusiastic comments about bees playing and learning, with references to educational videos and observations, while the tone is playful and curious, reflecting both fascination and appreciation for the scientific insights into bee cognition and behavior.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussants agree that the research reveals fascinating aspects of bee intelligence and behavior, emphasizing the significance of the study.

InterestHigh interest

The discussions show high interest, with many referencing the educational value and multiple examples of bee learning behaviors.

EngagementHigh engagement

Participants actively share videos, educational insights, and personal thoughts, indicating deep engagement with the topic.

ImpactModerate impact

There is recognition of the research's importance for understanding pollination and bee cognition, but some focus more on entertainment than scientific implications.

Abstract in brief

Bees can learn to associate different colors with nectar and pollen rewards at the same time during foraging.
The study shows that bumblebees quickly learn these color-reward connections and can generalize to similar colors when presented with new floral options.
This research highlights the importance of understanding bee learning in natural pollination processes and raises new questions about how bees' cognitive abilities influence plant pollination strategies.]

Read the full abstract

All mentions

Honeybees Demonstrate Basic Arithmetic Skills

Honeybees are capable of basic numerical tasks such as addition and subtraction, despite having small brains. This fascinating discovery indicates that advanced numerical cognition may be more common in nonhuman animals…

Ze Frank · Apr 25, 2024 2,453,274 views

Cognitive Abilities of Honeybees: Addition and Subtraction Explained

Honey bees demonstrate advanced numerical cognition, capable of performing basic addition and subtraction tasks. They associate colors as symbols in these operations, showcasing that complex arithmetic skills may exist…

BEEKEEPAR BABA · Feb 16, 2025 834 views

❄️Winterlady❄️

@winterlady1.bsky.social · Bluesky

Heee… bee educated! ZeFrank on bees and how they learn and share info with other bees. The balls bit is true! youtu.be/M6hGjh9SJ_M?...

Oct 11, 2025 · 6 likes · 1 share View post →

Genie Lauren

@moreandagain.social · Bluesky

I thought I loved bees before but I just found out that bees love playing with balls and they're really smart

Sep 27, 2025 · 9 likes · 1 share View post →

Jax Wolff Writes

@jaxwolffwrites.bsky.social · Bluesky

31a. There have absolutely been studies involving teaching bees to solve puzzles and having those bees teach other bees. 31b. I am absolutely including a video about this. youtu.be/M6hGjh9SJ_M?...

Jul 20, 2025 · 2 likes · 1 share View post →

pleah.bsky.social

@pleah.bsky.social · Bluesky

youtu.be/M6hGjh9SJ_M?...

May 25, 2025 View post →

Mimihasatoothache

@mhasatoothache.bsky.social · Bluesky

May 4, 2025 · 7 likes · 1 share View post →

nncyruth.bsky.social

@nncyruth.bsky.social · Bluesky

youtu.be/M6hGjh9SJ_M?...

Mar 5, 2025 View post →

Rosie S.

@rosiespinoza.bsky.social · Bluesky

Today’s drawing was inspired by @oncontour.bsky.social sharing how #bumblebees love to play in blooming Callirhoe involucrata flowers.

Jan 21, 2025 · 1 like View post →

Andrew

@andrewmichael.bsky.social · Bluesky

youtu.be/M6hGjh9SJ_M?...

Dec 20, 2024 · 1 like View post →

veteranvandal.bsky.social

@veteranvandal.bsky.social · Bluesky

youtu.be/M6hGjh9SJ_M?...

Dec 14, 2024 View post →

Bryan Sarauer

@pawistik.bsky.social · Bluesky

Nov 27, 2024 · 6 likes · 2 shares View post →

Hanna Blue

@blueberrypoison.bsky.social · Bluesky

True facts bees that play with balls and do math. lol he said “ I don’t know which scientist didn’t have the balls to go to art school but still!” And I died lol

Nov 24, 2024 · 1 like View post →

Andrew

@andrewmichael.bsky.social · Bluesky

Here's your homework: youtu.be/M6hGjh9SJ_M?... (I think you'll really enjoy it ❤️)

Nov 19, 2024 · 1 like · 1 share View post →

Joel Stocksdale

@geekygearhead99.bsky.social · Bluesky

I think so (I’m not super familiar with Best Favorite Animal) youtu.be/M6hGjh9SJ_M?...

May 1, 2024 · 1 share View post →

frodosynthesis

@extrathoughts.bsky.social · Bluesky

Love bees

Apr 30, 2024 · 1 like View post →

ZanBizar

@zanbizar.bsky.social · Bluesky

Als je dit filmpje niet even gaat bekijken krijg je billenkoek! youtu.be/M6hGjh9SJ_M

Apr 27, 2024 View post →

Toma - Yeen Baws -

@itomaisfuzzy.bsky.social · Bluesky

Today I learned that bees can do math but also love to play with balls. youtu.be/M6hGjh9SJ_M

Apr 26, 2024 · 5 likes · 1 share View post →

RagsyNZ

@ragsynz.bsky.social · Bluesky

The most important thing to remember is bees love balls youtu.be/M6hGjh9SJ_M?...

Apr 25, 2024 View post →

Arash Mohebbi

@thatoldbear.bsky.social · Bluesky

youtu.be/M6hGjh9SJ_M Today I learned that bees instinctively love playing with spherical objects like they cant help but wanna fuck around with beads and such :D

Apr 25, 2024 View post →

POPLINE

@POPLINE_org · X

RT @EurekaMag: Colour learning when foraging for nectar and pollen: bees learn two colours at once https://t.co/41aeweIzrk

May 8, 2022 · 2 shares · 5,228 followers View post →

Science Alerts

@Science_Alerts · X

RT @EurekaMag: Colour learning when foraging for nectar and pollen: bees learn two colours at once https://t.co/41aeweIzrk

May 8, 2022 · 2 shares · 1,233 followers View post →

EurekaMag

@EurekaMag · X

Colour learning when foraging for nectar and pollen: bees learn two colours at once https://t.co/41aeweIzrk

May 8, 2022 · 2 shares · 6,552 followers View post →

Colour learning when foraging for nectar and pollen: bees learn two colours at once.

Mentions per month

Where it's discussed

What people are saying

Abstract in brief

Top posts

All mentions

Honeybees Demonstrate Basic Arithmetic Skills

Cognitive Abilities of Honeybees: Addition and Subtraction Explained