Bees Show Preferences Through Taste Responses

A research team from Sun Yat-sen University in southern China has published findings in the *Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS)*, analyzing taste responses in 18 colonies of western honey bees. The study observed that when bees tasted sweet sugar water, they extended their tongues, similar to how humans enjoy flavors. In contrast, they shook their heads and cleaned their mouths when exposed to bitter or salty water, indicating preferences based on taste—an unprecedented discovery in insects.