Animal Behavior & Psychology Flashcards

Which type of learning occurs when an insect reduces its response to a repeated, non-harmful stimulus?

Answer: Habituation

Habituation is the waning of a response to a repeated stimulus that has no meaningful consequence.

In honeybees, the 'round dance' communicates that a food source is located within approximately how far from the hive?

Answer: 100 meters

The round dance indicates food sources within about 100 meters, while the waggle dance is used for more distant sources.

What term describes the phenomenon where insects aggregate in response to a chemical signal released by conspecifics?

Answer: Aggregation pheromone attraction

Aggregation pheromones attract conspecifics, causing them to cluster together at a resource or shelter.

Which behavior describes an insect's directional movement away from a harmful stimulus such as a repellent?

Answer: Negative taxis

Negative taxis is directed movement away from a stimulus, such as moving away from a repellent chemical.

The term 'agonistic behavior' in insects refers to:

Answer: Any behavior related to conflict, including threat, attack, and submission

Agonistic behavior encompasses all behaviors associated with conflict interactions, including aggressive, defensive, and submissive acts.

A cockroach that becomes active only after dark is exhibiting which type of behavioral pattern?

Answer: Nocturnal circadian activity

Cockroaches are nocturnal insects whose activity is governed by a circadian rhythm synchronized to the dark phase.

In pest management, understanding insect host-finding behavior primarily helps in:

Answer: Selecting repellents and trap crops that disrupt or intercept host location

Knowledge of host-finding mechanisms allows practitioners to deploy repellents, semiochemicals, or trap crops to intercept or redirect pest insects.