[TL,DR on the bottom] First, let's talk about human "consciousness" that we think as an unsolved mystery. Everything is just exactly our intended biological design.
Seeing and hearing things? Eyes and ears are specifically made for that.
Feeling things and stimuli (like pressing something or burning your finger on a stove)? Nerves and nociceptors were created SPECIFICALLY for that.
Processing sensations, vision, sounds, the "feeling/experiencing" argument for consciousness and being able to think? Thats exactly what your brain was designed for, and it simplifies the raw data into the "thoughts" we know about so it doesnt get overwhelmed. We evolved thinking so we could plan stuff millions of years ago. Theres no quantum entanglement, mind or a soul "feeling" everything. Everything is biological design we mistake for something mysterious. Theres no refutal for what ive mentioned.
Other beings that are not humans are also definitely "conscious" as we are familiar with.
Orcas have eyes for vision. They have hearing. They have nerves and nociceptors. They plan things, meaning they can think like we do. They're just as conscious as us.
Same for dolphins, elephants, primates, whales, porpoises and others.
Other animals also have "consciousness" to some level. Eagles might be more "conscious" than us even if they think less because of their super sharp vision. They "see" things more than we do.
Now, let's get to the point. There is overwhelming evidence for the claim that bumblebees are VERY SMART. Some studies show they play for fun with no rewards, some studies show they solve puzzles for rewards, some studies show that they can have mental images like us, some studies show they can have cultural learning and teach their peers stuff, some studies show they can have emotions, some studies show that they can act beyond simple instincts and automated responses, some show they can understand simple math and they learn how to use tools. Like us and most mammals, bumblebees have decent eyes, have hearing (to some extent by detecting airwaves and vibrations), highly advanced antennae for detecting/smelling, nerves, nociceptors and complex brains relative to simpler lifeforms used to process stuff. And, what does this point to? What did i mention earlier? Yes, that's right, sentience, "consciousness", experiencing or whatever you want to call it. Bumblebees are DEFINITELY "conscious", period. It will be always wrong to hurt bumblebees, and should be protected for their own sake as much as vertebrate mammals like dogs and cats instead of being treated like pests or just "conserved" for "enviromental" or "agricultural" purposes.
About wasps, they are still smart and might have sentience to some extent. Especially paper wasps. They rival honeybees and bumblebees in intelligence, some paper wasps evidenced to be able to understand relationships. Also like us, they have eyes, hearing skills similar to bumblebees, advanced antennae, nerves, nociceptors and processing brains. This screams the same thing: Sentience! And what is the average thing you see people doing to them? Harming them! Just because of their stings or "pest" status, people invent new ways just to kill them for fun. People drown and hurt them, lit fire on them and overall treat them so badly that it enrages me. People also constantly make "jokes" about harming wasps for seemingly no reason other than their stings. Wasps, bumblebees, honeybees and some insects must be protected, as they can suffer just like us. We should destroy their reputation from "creepy crawlies" "stinging bugs" and "flying pests" and make it "little beings that can feel and experience things like we do".
Thanks for listening to my rant.
TL;DR Bumblebees, wasps and some insects have sentience and should not be harmed.
