"Ruth Rosin" "Insects, however, cannot perform arithmetic calculations, or
even count in the first place."

This where I really hit the delete. There is no possible grounds for such
assertions - surely we simply do not know (yet) fully what goes on inside a
bee's brain?  The person who has done most work here is Professor Pichard ,
formerly of Cardiff Uny, who has scanned a bee brain in 320 slices.  In his
lecture this weekend in Wales UK he showed the unpublished scans in
comparison
with the scans of other brains (such as braula) and showed the mushroom
bodies that light up when a bee's brains is active , the 'decision tracks'
down which impulses travel to the memory 'files'. He gave his opinion that
he has no difficulty in ascribing an ability in bees to feel emotions.  He
did not comment on numeracy but it is clear that bees have many powers not
understood that we should be ready to accept (after keeping an open mind
meanwhile).

On dancing, he showed a video of the robot 'dancing bee' that could be used
to direct marked attendants to feeds at any distance and direction.  The
robot got stung if it did not give out syrup in addition to dancing!

Robin Dartington

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