Social insects like bumblebees are fascinatingly complex—especially when it comes to task allocation. Even among workers, there’s variation in who does what: some tend to the young, others regulate nest temperature, and many venture out to forage. Foraging bees collect both nectar (a carbohydrate source) and pollen (a protein source)—aka the original girl dinner! But what determines whether a bee becomes a nectar or pollen forager?

I was curious whether individual differences in sensory sensitivity to sugar might play a role. Specifically, I hypothesized that bees more sensitive to sucrose would be less likely to be nectar foragers—since you’d want those foragers to be more selective and focused on collecting only the highest-quality nectar.

I observed wild-caught and lab-reared bumblebees foraging for nectar or pollen and tested their sucrose responsiveness, but found no difference between groups—suggesting that other factors like experience or colony needs may shape foraging roles. To validate my methods, I tested wild-caught honeybees, whose responses aligned with past research, confirming my protocol while highlighting the complexity of bumblebee behavior.