Do Other Creatures Communicate with One Another?
I get a kick out of watching the creatures in my yard. Green anoles never seem to be bored. The little green lizards make themselves at home no matter where they are, inside or out. Years ago, two anoles lived on the window screen above our kitchen sink. I enjoyed watching them sneak up and capture the flies and other flying insects invading their turf.
My favorite anecdote recalls their sense of fun. While working outside, I noticed four of the little lizards climbing up the handle of a shovel. Three of the anoles followed their leader as he jumped from the wooden handle onto the top of a workbench. The foursome speedily proceeded across the top of the bench towards a piece of two-inch molding leaning against the table. Then, one at a time, they jumped on the trim strip and slid down to the ground. If they had the capability, I'm sure they would have been laughing as they tumbled off their slide and started the trek back to the shovel.
How did this game begin? Did one anole discover the makeshift sliding board and the other ones observe and imitate? Maybe the instigator recruited his companions. If so, how did they communicate with one another?
A 2011 study of birds and anoles' intelligence found that anoles can solve a problem they've never encountered before, remember the solution in future trials, and even change techniques when presented with new challenges.
In addition, other observations have noted that anoles can communicate through body and head movements and by how they walk, strut, and bob. Each species has its own unique series of postures, gestures, mannerisms, and movements.
Insects are just as entertaining. The intricate flittering dances performed by butterflies, the frenzied buzz of multiple pollinators investigating each and every flower, and the precision dive bombing of dragonflies make me wonder what's going on inside those bugs' brains. Are they talking with one another?
Can Insects Communicate With Each Other?
Yes, they can, but not in the same way as anoles. Instead of relying entirely on body language and sight, they also use other senses to send and receive messages.
Smell: pheromones mark a scent trail leading to a source of food. Pheromones are also used to find mates and as a danger warning.
Sounds and vibrations: Other than the apparent sounds we can hear (i.e., crickets), insects can create and sense sounds and vibrations that humans can't.
Visual: Fireflies communicate by flashing, and each species has its own flash pattern. Other insects use bright colors and distinctive patterns to ward off predators.
Taste: Legs, wings, feet, and antennae on insects can taste food sources, sites to lay eggs, and to identify others of their species.
Bumblebees Take It to the Next Level
My favorite insects are bumble bees. I love how the curious creatures hover and watch me as I work in the garden. Instead of mindlessly buzzing around, concentrating solely on the flowers, they seem very interested in what I'm doing, following me as I do my chores. One time, a bumblebee anticipated where I'd be going. It was a repetitive job, carrying new plants from the shed to the garden bed, yet she actually predicted my next move, flew ahead, and waited for me to catch up. Granted, that only happened once, but it was so cool!
Scientific studies and controlled experiments have proven that bumblebees are amazingly intelligent. They're not only capable of learning but can also teach other bumblebees.
Earlier this year (2024), Dr Alice Bridges, Professor Lars Chittka, and their colleagues revealed that these fuzzy pollinators can learn complex, multi-step tasks through social interaction with other bumblebees.
I may be slightly biased, but I think bumblebees are the cleverest insects of them all. They get along with all the other pollinators and do a fabulous job of caring for my garden.
I captured a video of a bumblebee placidly collecting pollen from a bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare) until another bee (Mason bee?) bullied her into leaving. Watching them, I could picture a couple of preschoolers and the Mason bee saying, "This is mine; you can't have any."
The Dancing Honeybees
Honeybees immigrated to the United States in the 1400s with the Europeans. They adapted to their new home without any problems, except they never learned how to share. Honeybees will bully our native bees if there is competition for resources. Even so, they need to be recognized for the ingenious way they communicate with each other. Worker bees use a "dance language" to inform their hive mates where to find food sources. The waggle dance communicates the direction and distance to a newly discovered source of flowering plants.
According to "Ask a Biologist" at Arizona State University, the dance takes place inside the hive. "The dancing bee waggles back and forth as she moves forward in a straight line, then circles around to repeat the dance." The length of the waggle run shows roughly how far it is to the flower patch. As for direction, the bee dances at a specific angle away from the top of the hive. Outside the hive, bees look at the sun's position and fly at that same angle away from the sun.
Mother Nature did a tremendous job when she created the natural world. She paid careful attention to the smallest details, ensuring her creatures had all the advantages they needed to thrive. There is so much more information I've learned about how insects communicate. Unfortunately, I can't cover it all since I don't want this article to become a dull 3000-word research paper. All I can say is the complexities found in the insect world are fascinating. Look it up when you have a chance.
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Of course animals communicate! To assume they don't is actually harder work. Requires more elaborate explanations for how they interact. So much simpler to recognize that they are conscious.