Wild bumblebees are capable of logical reasoning, new research by a University of Stirling psychologist has found.

In a world first, the bees have shown to be capable of inferential reasoning, which is one of the hallmarks of human cognition.

The pioneering study tasked bees with spontaneously finding corresponding sugar-coated strips of paper.

The positioning and colour of the strips were varied, and analysis shows the bees searched in the correct location significantly above chance in both conditions.

Lead researcher Dr Gema Martin-Ordas, a senior lecturer in the University of Stirling’s Faculty of Natural Sciences, said: “My studies examine the ability to make a decision by excluding alternatives, known as inferential reasoning, which is usually considered uniquely human and language dependent.