Free will in bees?  Good question.  

Do humans have free will?  That is a major debate in religion.

As with so many  discussions here, we need to define the term or we just talk past one another. 

Is there such a thing as free will?  On an absolute basis, obviously, not, but in context, possibly.  How would be know?

Anyhow, I have been thinking differently about honey bees lately, watching bees from a nearby wild colony coming to my boat for fresh water from under the aerator on my kitchen tap.  They seem to prefer this source to damp rags or other potential  sources.

I am impressed by what appears to be individual behaviours and the different way the solve problems, and see and learn from one another and how they deal with changes on what portlights I leave open -- or not.  They seem to differ in age and experience, and intelligence.

Anyhow, without writing a book, my guess from all appearances, is they do, with the same variability as in humans.  After all, we are all constrained by our environment and physiology -- and our society.

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