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Wen C, Wang C, Guo X, Li H, Xiao H, Wen J, Dong S. Object use in insects. INSECT SCIENCE 2024; 31:1001-1014. [PMID: 37828914 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Insects are the most diverse group of organisms in the animal kingdom, and some species exhibit complex social behaviors. Although research on insect object use is still in its early stages, insects have already been shown to display rich object-use behaviors. This review focuses on patterns and behavioral flexibility in insect object-use behavior, and the role of cultural evolution in the development of object-use behaviors. Object use in insects is not widespread but has been documented in a diverse set of taxa. Some insects can use objects flexibly and display various object-use patterns. Like mammals and birds, insects use objects in diverse activities, including foraging, predator defense, courtship, and play. Intelligence, pre-existing manipulative behaviors, and anatomical structure affect innovations in object use. In addition, learning and imitation are the main mechanisms underlying the spread of object-use behaviors within populations. Given that insects are one of the major animal groups engaging in object use, studies of insect object use could provide general insights into object use in the animal kingdom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Wen
- School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Cai Wang
- College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoli Guo
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Forest Pest Control, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Hongyu Li
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Forest Pest Control, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Haijun Xiao
- School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Junbao Wen
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Forest Pest Control, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Shikui Dong
- School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
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2
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Martin R, Leroy C, Maák I, d'Ettorre P. Group phenotypic composition drives task performances in ants. Biol Lett 2024; 20:20230463. [PMID: 38195057 PMCID: PMC10776233 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2023.0463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Differences in individual behaviour within a group can give rise to functional dissimilarities between groups, particularly in social animals. However, how individual behavioural phenotypes translate into the group phenotype remains unclear. Here, we investigate whether individual behavioural type affects group performance in a eusocial species, the ant Aphaenogaster senilis. We measured individual behavioural traits and created groups of workers with similar behavioural type, either high-exploratory or low-exploratory workers. We tested these groups in four different, ecologically relevant, tasks: reaction to an intruder, prey retrieval from a maze, nest relocation and tool use. We show that, compared to groups of low-exploratory workers, groups of high-exploratory workers were more aggressive towards intruders, more efficient in collecting prey, faster in nest relocation and more likely to perform tool use. Our results demonstrate a strong link between individual and collective behaviour in ants. This supports the 'behavioural type hypothesis' for group dynamics, which suggests that an individual's behaviour in a social environment reflects its own behavioural type. The average behavioural phenotype of a group can therefore be predicted from the behavioural types of individual group members.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rayanne Martin
- Laboratory of Experimental and Comparative Ethology (LEEC), UR 4443, University Sorbonne Paris Nord, 99 Avenue J.-B. Clément, 93430 Villetaneuse, France
| | - Chloé Leroy
- Laboratory of Experimental and Comparative Ethology (LEEC), UR 4443, University Sorbonne Paris Nord, 99 Avenue J.-B. Clément, 93430 Villetaneuse, France
| | - István Maák
- Department of Ecology, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, 6726 Szeged, Hungary
- Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wilcza 64, 00679 Warszawa, Poland
| | - Patrizia d'Ettorre
- Laboratory of Experimental and Comparative Ethology (LEEC), UR 4443, University Sorbonne Paris Nord, 99 Avenue J.-B. Clément, 93430 Villetaneuse, France
- Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), Paris, France
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Shen L, Wen C, Chen X, Hua Y, Du C, Cai J, Wen X, Wang L, Wang C. Paving Behavior in Ants and Its Potential Application in Monitoring Two Urban Pest Ants, Solenopsis invicta and Tapinoma melanocephalum. INSECTS 2023; 14:219. [PMID: 36975904 PMCID: PMC10054563 DOI: 10.3390/insects14030219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Our previous study discovered that two urban pest ants, red imported fire ants, Solenopsis invicta Buren (Formicidae: Myrmicinae), and ghost ants, Tapinoma melanocephalum (Fabricius) (Formicidae: Dolichoderinae), can pave viscose surfaces with particles to facilitate food search and transport. We hypothesize that this paving behavior can be applied to monitor S. invicta and T. melanocephalum. In the present study, 3998 adhesive tapes, each with a food source (sausage), were placed in 20 locations around Guangzhou, China (181-224 tapes per location), and their efficiency to detect S. invicta and T. melanocephalum was compared with two traditional ant-monitoring methods, baiting and pitfall trapping. Overall, S. invicta was detected by 45.6% and 46.4% of baits and adhesive tapes, respectively. In each location, the percentage of adhesive tapes detecting S. invicta and T. melanocephalum was similar when compared to baits and pitfall traps. However, significantly more non-target ant species showed up on bait and pitfall traps. Seven non-target ant species-Pheidole parva Mayr (Formicidae: Myrmicinae), Pheidole nodus Smith (Formicidae: Myrmicinae), Pheidole sinica Wu & Wang (Formicidae: Myrmicinae), Pheidole yeensis Forel (Formicidae: Myrmicinae), Carebara affinis (Jerdon) (Formicidae: Myrmicinae), Camponotus nicobarensis Mayr (Formicidae: Formicinae), and Odontoponera transversa (Smith) (Formicidae: Ponerinae)-also showed tape paving behavior, but they can be easily distinguished morphologically from S. invicta and T. melanocephalum. Our study showed that the paving behavior occurs in different subfamilies of ants (i.e., myrmicinae, dolichoderinae, formicinae, and ponerinae). In addition, paving behavior can potentially be used to develop more specific monitoring methods for S. invicta and T. melanocephalum in urban areas in southern China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liming Shen
- College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Chao Wen
- School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Xuan Chen
- Department of Biological Sciences, Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD 21801, USA
| | - Yan Hua
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Silviculture, Protection and Utilization, Guangdong Academy of Forestry, Guangzhou 510520, China
| | - Chengju Du
- College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Jiacheng Cai
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD 21801, USA
| | - Xiujun Wen
- College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Lei Wang
- College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Cai Wang
- College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
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Zhou A, Du Y, Chen J. Surfactant affects the tool use behavior of foraging ants. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2022; 238:113592. [PMID: 35526452 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Surfactants are commonly used in detergents, soaps and agrichemical products. After use, the residual surfactants can be dispersed into environmental compartments, directly or indirectly affecting aquatic and terrestrial organisms. Ants are one of the few insects that are able to make and use tools when foraging for liquid food. However, this unique behavior of ants may be greatly affected by environmental pollutants. Here, we hypothesized that surfactants have adversarial impacts on ant foraging behavior, and tested this hypothesis by investigating the effect of TWEEN 80 (a common nonionic surfactant) on the tool use behavior of black imported fire ants (Solenopsis richteri) when foraging for liquid food (sugar water). Natural pine needles and man-made sponges were provided as tools for ants. The results revealed increasing surfactant concentration induced ants to deposit more tools and caused a higher drowning rate of ants. S. richteri tended to deposit more pine needles and tools of smaller size when exposed to surfactant. Interactions between tool type and surfactant concentration showed significant effects on tool deposition and drowning rate of ants. Addition of surfactant into sugar water increased the drowning rate and reduced the foraging activity and food collection of ant workers, suggesting that surfactant in liquid food can affect the foraging efficiency of ants. However, availability of tools reduced drowning rate and increased sugar water collected compared to without tools. Our results demonstrated that ants can adjust their tool use strategies to manage the foraging risk caused by environmental surfactant, such as increasing the amount and selecting appropriate size of the tools and assembling tools of different structures. Therefore, long-term exposure to surfactants may alter foraging behavior of ants and contribute to evolve new foraging strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aiming Zhou
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
| | - Yuzhe Du
- National Biological Control Laboratory, Biological Control of Pest Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Stoneville, MS 38776, USA
| | - Jian Chen
- National Biological Control Laboratory, Biological Control of Pest Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Stoneville, MS 38776, USA.
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Aupanun S, Jaitrong W, Ito F. Colony composition and behavioral characteristics of the myrmicine ant, <i>Aphaenogaster rugulosa</i>, an endemic species to Yonagunijima Island, the westernmost point of Japan (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). TROPICS 2022. [DOI: 10.3759/tropics.ms21-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Wen C, Chen J, Qin WQ, Chen X, Cai JC, Wen JB, Wen XJ, Wang C. Red imported fire ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) cover inaccessible surfaces with particles to facilitate food search and transportation. INSECT SCIENCE 2021; 28:1816-1828. [PMID: 33247536 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Revised: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Eusocial insects have evolved diverse particle-use behaviors. A previous study reported that red imported fire ants, Solenopsis invicta Buren, deposited soil particles on substances treated with essential balm, a fire ant repellent. We hypothesized that S. invicta modifies inaccessible surfaces by covering them with soil particles to facilitate food search and transportation. Here, laboratory experiments were conducted to study the particle-covering behavior of S. invicta in response to viscose surfaces or surfaces treated with essential balm or liquid paraffin in the presence of real food (sausage) or non-food objects (acrylic plates). S. invicta workers deposited significantly more soil particles on these three types of treated surfaces than on untreated surfaces. In addition, significantly more particles were relocated on viscose and paraffin-smeared surfaces in the presence of food than in the presence of non-food objects. The particle-covering behavior on viscose surfaces was also observed in the field. Interestingly, when no soil particles were available, ants searched and transported food on viscose surfaces only if the surfaces were artificially covered with sufficient quantities of soil particles but could not do so on viscose surfaces without soil particles or with insufficient quantities of soil particles. In addition, ants actively relocated particles to cover viscose surfaces if the transportation distance was within 200 mm, whereas significantly fewer particles were relocated at longer transportation distances (400 mm). Our study provides a novel example of particle use by fire ants during foraging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Wen
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Innovation Development and Utilization of Forest Plant Germplasm, College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Jian Chen
- Biological Control of Pests Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Stoneville, MS, 38776, USA
| | - Wen-Quan Qin
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Innovation Development and Utilization of Forest Plant Germplasm, College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Xuan Chen
- Department of Biology, Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD, 21801, USA
| | - Jia-Cheng Cai
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD, 21801, USA
| | - Jun-Bao Wen
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Forest Pest Control, College of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Xiu-Jun Wen
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Innovation Development and Utilization of Forest Plant Germplasm, College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Cai Wang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Innovation Development and Utilization of Forest Plant Germplasm, College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
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Cordero-Rivera A, Roucourt Cezário R, Guillermo–Ferreira R, Marques Lopez V, Sanmartín–Villar I. Can scientific laws be discussed on philosophical grounds? a reply to naïve arguments on ‘predators’ proposed by Bramble (2021). ANIMAL BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION 2021. [DOI: 10.32800/abc.2021.44.0205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
A recent paper by Bramble (2021) argues that given that predators inflict pain and fear on their prey we have the moral right to act to minimize these effects. The author proposes two alternatives. The first is to transform predators by ‘genetically modifying them so that their offspring gradually evolve into herbivores’. The second is simply ‘painlessly killing predators’, which is the title of Bramble’s essay. We address the misconceptions that Bramble uses as central in his arguments and present scientific reasoning to discuss the ethical implications of disregarding scientific knowledge when addressing animal welfare and animal rights. We conclude that both Bramble’s alternatives are nonsensical, not only from a scientific point of view, but also, and more importantly, from ethical grounds.
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Maák I, Roelandt G, d'Ettorre P. A small number of workers with specific personality traits perform tool use in ants. eLife 2020; 9:61298. [PMID: 33295872 PMCID: PMC7725502 DOI: 10.7554/elife.61298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Ants use debris as tools to collect and transport liquid food to the nest. Previous studies showed that this behaviour is flexible whereby ants learn to use artificial material that is novel to them and select tools with optimal soaking properties. However, the process of tool use has not been studied at the individual level. We investigated whether workers specialise in tool use and whether there is a link between individual personality traits and tool use in the ant Aphaenogaster senilis. Only a small number of workers performed tool use and they did it repeatedly, although they also collected solid food. Personality predicted the probability to perform tool use: ants that showed higher exploratory activity and were more attracted to a prey in the personality tests became the new tool users when previous tool users were removed from the group. This suggests that, instead of extreme task specialisation, variation in personality traits within the colony may improve division of labour.
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Affiliation(s)
- István Maák
- Department of Ecology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.,Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Science, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Garyk Roelandt
- Laboratory of Experimental and Comparative Ethology UR 4443, University Sorbonne Paris Nord, Villetaneuse, France
| | - Patrizia d'Ettorre
- Laboratory of Experimental and Comparative Ethology UR 4443, University Sorbonne Paris Nord, Villetaneuse, France.,Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), Paris, France
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Módra G, Maák I, Lőrincz Á, Juhász O, Kiss PJ, Lőrinczi G. Protective behavior or 'true' tool use? Scrutinizing the tool use behavior of ants. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:13787-13795. [PMID: 33391680 PMCID: PMC7771131 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Revised: 09/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
In the genus Aphaenogaster, workers use tools to transport liquid food to the colony. During this behavior, ants place or drop various kinds of debris into liquids or soft food, and then, they carry the food-soaked tools back to the nest. According to some authors, this behavior is not "true" tool use because it represents two separate processes: a defense response to cover the dangerous liquid and a transport of food. Here, we investigated the debris dropping and retrieving behavior of the ant Aphaenogaster subterranea to establish which of the two hypotheses is more probable by conducting manipulative experiments. We tested the responses of eight colonies (a) to liquid food (honey-water) and nonfood liquids (water) in different distances from the nest and (b) to nonthreatening liquids previously covered or presented as small droplets. We also tested whether the nutritional condition of colonies (i.e., starved or satiated) would affect the intensity and rate of debris dropping. Our results were consistent with the tool-using behavior hypothesis. Firstly, ants clearly differentiated between honey-water and water, and they directed more of their foraging effort toward liquids farther from the nest. Secondly, ants performed object dropping even into liquids that did not pose the danger of drowning or becoming entangled. Lastly, the nutritional condition of colonies had a significant effect on the intensity and rate of object dropping, but in the opposite direction than we expected. Our results suggest that the foraging behavior of A. subterranea is more complex than that predicted by the two-component behavior hypothesis and deserves to be considered as "true" tool use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gábor Módra
- Department of EcologyUniversity of SzegedSzegedHungary
- Doctoral School of Environmental SciencesUniversity of SzegedSzegedHungary
| | - István Maák
- Department of EcologyUniversity of SzegedSzegedHungary
- Museum and Institute of ZoologyPolish Academy of SciencesWarsawPoland
| | - Ádám Lőrincz
- Department of EcologyUniversity of SzegedSzegedHungary
| | - Orsolya Juhász
- Department of EcologyUniversity of SzegedSzegedHungary
- Doctoral School in BiologyFaculty of Science and InformaticsUniversity of SzegedSzegedHungary
| | - Péter János Kiss
- Department of EcologyUniversity of SzegedSzegedHungary
- Doctoral School of Environmental SciencesUniversity of SzegedSzegedHungary
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Affiliation(s)
- Aiming Zhou
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory College of Plant Science and Technology Huazhong Agricultural University Wuhan China
| | - Yuzhe Du
- National Biological Control Laboratory Biological Control of Pest Research Unit USDA‐ARS Stoneville MS USA
| | - Jian Chen
- National Biological Control Laboratory Biological Control of Pest Research Unit USDA‐ARS Stoneville MS USA
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Qin W, Chen X, Hooper-Bùi LM, Cai J, Wang L, Sun Z, Wen X, Wang C. Food-burying behavior in red imported fire ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). PeerJ 2019; 7:e6349. [PMID: 30701141 PMCID: PMC6348953 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.6349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2018] [Accepted: 12/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The food-burying behavior has been reported in many mammals and birds, but was rarely observed in invertebrates. The red imported fire ants, Solenopsis invicta Buren, is an invasive pest in many areas of the world that usually performing food-burying during the foraging processes. However, the impacted factors and measureable patterns of this behavior is largely unknown. In the present study, food-burying vs food-transport behaviors of Solenopsis invicta were observed under laboratory and field conditions. When starved (no food was provided for 37 days) in the laboratory, food (sausage) was consumed by large numbers of ants, and few burying behaviors were observed. However, when food was provided until satiation of the colonies, food-transport was suppressed and significantly more soil particles were relocated on the food and graph paper square (where the food was placed) when compared with these colonies exposed to starved conditions. Videotapes showed that soil particles (1.47 ± 0.09 mm2) were preferentially placed adjacent to (in contact with) the food items at the beginning; and after the edges were covered, ants transported significantly smaller soil particles (1.13 ± 0.06 mm2) to cover the food. Meanwhile, larger particles (1.96 ± 0.08 mm2) were pulled/dragged around (but not in contact with) the food. Interestingly, only a small number of ants, mainly the small workers, were involved in food-burying, and the ants tended to repeatedly transport soil particles. A total of 12 patterns of particle transport were identified, and soil particles were most frequently picked from the foraging arena and subsequently placed adjacent to the food. In the field, almost all released food was actively transported by Solenopsis invicta workers, and no burying behavior was observed. Our results show that the food-burying behavior of Solenopsis invicta may be associated with the suppressed foraging activity, and the burying task may be carried out by certain groups of workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenquan Qin
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Innovation Development and Utilization of Forest Plant Germplasm, College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xuan Chen
- Department of Biology, Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD, USA
| | - Linda M Hooper-Bùi
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - Jiacheng Cai
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD, USA
| | - Lei Wang
- College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhaohui Sun
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Innovation Development and Utilization of Forest Plant Germplasm, College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiujun Wen
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Innovation Development and Utilization of Forest Plant Germplasm, College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Cai Wang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Innovation Development and Utilization of Forest Plant Germplasm, College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
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Perry CJ, Chittka L. How foresight might support the behavioral flexibility of arthropods. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2018; 54:171-177. [PMID: 30445344 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2018.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2018] [Revised: 10/06/2018] [Accepted: 10/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The small brains of insects and other invertebrates are often thought to constrain these animals to live entirely 'in the moment'. In this view, each one of their many seemingly hard-wired behavioral routines is triggered by a precisely defined environmental stimulus configuration, but there is no mental appreciation of the possible outcomes of one's actions, and therefore little flexibility. However, many studies show problem-solving behavior in various arthropod species that falls outside the range of fixed behavior routines. We propose that a basic form of foresight, the ability to predict the outcomes of one's own actions, is at the heart of such behavioral flexibility, and that the evolutionary roots of such outcome expectation are found in the need to disentangle sensory input that is predictable from self-generated motion versus input generated by changes in the outside world. Based on this, locusts, grasshoppers, dragonflies and flies seem to use internal models of the surrounding world to tailor their actions adaptively to predict the imminent future. Honeybees and orb-weaving spiders appear to act towards a desired outcome of their respective constructions, and the genetically pre-programmed routines that govern these constructions are subordinate to achieving the desired goal. Jumping spiders seem to preplan their route to prey suggesting they recognize the spatial challenge and actions necessary to obtain prey. Bumblebees and ants utilize objects not encountered in the wild as types of tools to solve problems in a manner that suggests an awareness of the desired outcome. Here we speculate that it may be simpler, in terms of the required evolutionary changes, computation and neural architecture, for arthropods to recognize their goal and predict the outcomes of their actions towards that goal, rather than having a large number of pre-programmed behaviors necessary to account for their observed behavioral flexibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clint J Perry
- Department of Biological and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK.
| | - Lars Chittka
- Department of Biological and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK; Wissenschaftskolleg/Institute for Advanced Study, Wallotstrasse 19, 14193 Berlin, Germany
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Lőrinczi G, Módra G, Juhász O, Maák I. Which tools to use? Choice optimization in the tool-using ant, Aphaenogaster subterranea. Behav Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/ary110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Gábor Lőrinczi
- Department of Ecology, University of Szeged, Közép fasor, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Gábor Módra
- Department of Ecology, University of Szeged, Közép fasor, Szeged, Hungary
- Doctoral School of Environmental Sciences, University of Szeged, Rerrich Béla tér, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Orsolya Juhász
- Department of Ecology, University of Szeged, Közép fasor, Szeged, Hungary
- Doctoral School in Biology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Közép fasor, Szeged, Hungary
| | - István Maák
- Department of Ecology, University of Szeged, Közép fasor, Szeged, Hungary
- Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wilcza street, Warsaw, Poland
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14
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Gallo V, Chittka L. Cognitive Aspects of Comb-Building in the Honeybee? Front Psychol 2018; 9:900. [PMID: 29951014 PMCID: PMC6008556 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2018] [Accepted: 05/17/2018] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The wax-made comb of the honeybee is a masterpiece of animal architecture. The highly regular, double-sided hexagonal structure is a near-optimal solution to storing food and housing larvae, economizing on building materials and space. Elaborate though they may seem, such animal constructions are often viewed as the result of 'just instinct,' governed by inflexible, pre-programmed, innate behavior routines. An inspection of the literature on honeybee comb construction, however, reveals a different picture. Workers have to learn, at least in part, certain elements of the technique, and there is considerable flexibility in terms of how the shape of the comb and its gradual manufacture is tailored to the circumstances, especially the available space. Moreover, we explore the 2-century old and now largely forgotten work by François Huber, where glass screens were placed between an expanding comb construction and the intended target wall. Bees took corrective action before reaching the glass obstacle, and altered the ongoing construction so as to reach the nearest wooden wall. Though further experiments will be necessary, these results suggest a form of spatial planning skills. We discuss these findings in the context of what is now known about insect cognition, and ask if it is possible that the production of hexagonal wax combs is the result of behavioral heuristics where a complex structure emerges as the result of simple behavioral rules applied by each individual, or whether prospective cognition might be involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Gallo
- Department of Psychology, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lars Chittka
- Department of Psychology, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
- Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin, Institute for Advanced Study, Berlin, Germany
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15
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The interplay between psychological predispositions and skill learning in the evolution of tool use. Curr Opin Behav Sci 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cobeha.2018.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Epps MJ, Penick CA. Facultative mushroom feeding by common woodland ants (Formicidae, Aphaenogaster spp.). FOOD WEBS 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fooweb.2017.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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