Lars Chittka

Biologist Professor Lars Chittka says the intelligence of bees goes far beyond the traditional idea of the ‘hive mind’.  They also have a unique and individual intelligence.

Chittka says the amount of sophisticated material packed into the brain of a bee is unparalleled in the animal kingdom. He explains how they are smart, have distinct personalities, can recognise flowers and human faces, exhibit basic emotions, count, use simple tools, solve problems, and learn by observing others. Chittka argues they may even possess consciousness. And he examines ethical questions that arise in conservation work and in laboratories because bees can feel and think.

Chittka is professor of sensory and behavioural ecology at Queen Mary University, London.

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