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THE BEEHIVE — Bees are typically known for being hard workers, but this video shows that bumblebees, at least, are not all work and no play.
These bumblebees enjoy playing with balls, and do it without any reward, because it's fun. This it may be the cutest insect video that exists, although there isn't a lot of competition when it comes to insects.
Interacting with balls almost my size was definitely fun when I was younger, and watching this, I realized having wings and the ability to fly would have taken that activity to a whole new level.
These fluffy bees are able to roll the ball they are gripping backwards using their wings without the need to push off the ground, and you can watch them struggling to try to stay on top of the ball while it moves as they crawl around it — similar to the way a hamster uses a wheel.
The study this footage comes from documented the first time insects have been known to play with inanimate objects. The research was published by scientists from the United Kingdom a few months ago, and shows bees have more complex thoughts than humans assumed.
Just like humans, younger bees are most likely to spend their time playing followed by adult male bumble bees.
